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Just when Professor McGonagall moistened her finger, to scroll to the next page, she was startled by a groan. Her finger mid air, she peered over the rim of her glasses at her former students, who paced up and down the floor. Every few seconds he glanced down at a card (most likely a kind of flash card), which he gripped so hard, that his knuckles were white.

From time to time, he stopped, but only, to tug on his shirt collar. It seemed, that he was at the point of collapse – so high time, to interfere. She closed her book with a snap and cleared her throat.

Her "Ronald!" was unsuccessful. Only a loud "Ronald Billius Weasley!" scored the desired effect. Confused, he glanced up and as their eyes met, Minerva patted invitingly on the seat beside her.

He put the card in his suit pocket and plopped with a sigh down on the chair.

"You need to calm down!" She rebuked him sternly.

"I'm calm!" Ron disagreed vehemently.

Minerva pointed with the tip of her walking stick at his leg, with which he tapped on the floor.

"Oh!" Blushing, he crossed his legs and folded his arms over his chest. "Why does it take so long?" He growled and stared gloomily, jaw tightly locked and shoulders tensed, at the door to the chamber.

Shaking her head, Minerva reached into her bag, pulled out a vacuum flask and filled a plastic cup with a hot liquid. She handed him the cup: "Here, that calms the nerves!"

"Tea?", croaked Ron, a little suspicious.

She smiled "Amongst other things." He lifted the cup to his nose and sniffed.

"I can assure you, that Poppy would never brew anything undrinkable!" She scolded.

Ron shuddered: "Yeah, I have very fond memories of her poisons!". Nonetheless, he sipped slowly from the cup.

"Don't be so shy." She nudged him with the flask and he finally took a big gulp. His eyes widened in surprise, then he began to cough: "Holy...sh..cannoli!"

"Excellent, don't you think?"

He nodded with watery eyes and affirmed hoarsely: "Indeed, excellent!"

"Another cup?"

Horrified, he shook his head and handed her the empty cup back.

Suddenly someone called out her name. As she turned her head, she was pleased to see, that Harry Potter rushed towards them.

"Harry, my boy, how are you?" Minerva started to get up, but Harry waved her off: "Please, Minerva, don't get up. I'm just here, to wish you good luck! And to remind Ron…"

As he turned to his friend, his eyes went wide in surprise.

Ron rubbed his neck sheepishly: "I look like a dandy, huh?"

Harry grinned: "I cannot disagree."

Ron groaned and buried his head in his hands.

After an exchange of glances with Minerva McGonagall, whose expressed her annoyance at his insensitive remark, he added quickly: "But in a good way."

His friend straightened up and asked hopefully: "Really?"

Harry drew with his finger a cross on his chest: "I cross my heart!"

And in fact, Audrey and Fleur have done a good job. This young wizard, with short hair and trimmed beard, was no comparison to the Ronald Weasley from the last few weeks. And the black suit with a dark blue shirt completed his well-groomed appearance.

He gave Ron an encouraging pat on the shoulder: "You'll be all right!. Unless, you cannot control yourself.." He stopped and looked at him meaningfully. – Ron furrowed his brow: "What are you rabbiting about?" – Harry lowered his voice: "The members of the Council don't like wizards, who swear like a trooper." – Ron wiped Harry's hand from his shoulder: "Shut …ooh!" Looking at the opening door, Ron's face color changed within seconds from white to green.


The Chamber was relatively small, on either side were green benches, occupied by the members of the Council. The table, where he and Minvera has been placed, was situated in the center of the room. No wonder, that Ron feels trapped. Enviously, he glanced at Minerva, who sat calm and relaxed in her chair.

As Minister Shacklebolt, whose seat was located at the north end of the Chamber, gave him an encouraging nod – it was time. Ron stood up and strode with shaky legs

to the lectern. He moved behind the lectern and put his notes in front of him.

"Minister Shacklebolt, Sirs and Madams!" Suddenly aware of the crowd, that listened to him, he got a sinking feeling in his stomach. Horrified, he noticed, that the letters of his notes began to blur. His heart pounded against his ribs and he blinked. 'Come on, Ron, relax your shoulders, loosen up your neck and, for heaven's sake, breathe!',

and reminded himself. As he looked again down at the notes, were these to his relief readable again. After a slow, deep breath, he continued in a steady voice: "Professor McGonagall and I are here, to talk to you about…."

"…. History shows us, that a keep quiet-strategy, is the wrong way." Ron glanced up from his notes: "We should no longer pretend, that Voldemort's atrocities never happened. Only if we answer the questions of the present and future generations openly and honestly, we avoid a new reign of terror like the ones of the Dark Lord. Thank you all for your attention."

Relieved, Ron went back to his seat, where he wiped his sweaty palms at his trousers. Minister Shacklebolt approached the lectern: "I think, we have to thank you, Auror Weasely, for your detailed explanations." He leaned against the lectern and looked around: "If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Professor McGonagall and Auror Weasley would be happy to answer them."

Minerva tilted her head in a regal manner: "With pleasure!"

A wizard called from the top bench: "Don't you think, that the education is the task of the parents?"

Minerva stopped Ron's reply by squeezing his arm: "Perhaps you remember, Aelfric, that an adolescent wizard or witch spends more time at school than at home – one of the most important periods of their life, I must add!"

Another wizard could not resist, to remark mockingly: "According to my knowledge, Lord Voldemort is dead as a door-nail. It is a safe bet, that the problem will resolve itself in the near future and there is no reason, to upset the apple cart."

"I wouldn't bet on it." Ron replied doubtfully.

"You impugn, that the number of his henchmen decreases from day to day? You're an Auror, aren't you?"

Ron nodded: "I'm!"

"Yet you do not believe, that soon Voldemort's followers and the Death Eaters are history, like himself?" asked the wizard amazed.

Ron opened his mouth to answer him, but someone was faster than him.

"Everyone thought this also, after the first war. And as we now know, his clout remained unbroken. It is, as always, we learn from history, that we do not learn from history!", hissed a female voice from the opposite side. Ron craned his neck, but could not catch the sight of a certain bushy-brown head among the present wizards and witches in the Chamber.

Minerva leaned over and whispered to Ron: "A famous Muggle quote, don't you think!"

Quickly, Ron jerked his head around. He looked straight ahead and acted, as if he did not notice her knowing glance.

"Actually, I would like Auror Weasley's opinion about this!", demanded the Wizard.

Ron cleared his throat, before he spoke up: "Sure, after the end of the war, a large part of the Death Eaters could be captured."

"Like I said!" came the satisfied response.

"Unfortunately, we observe, that interest in black magic grows, especially in the age groups under 20, some worshippers of this magic are even younger than 17."

"I'm certainly not wrong, when I say most of them are Slytherin's!" expressed another wizard spiteful.

Indignantly, Minerva knocked with her walking stick on the floor: "Really, Basil!"

Ron covered his mouth with a hand, to hide his snigger.

Regrettably, the general mutterings in the chamber revealed, that Basil was not alone in this view. As Minerva's expression turned into a scowl, Ron stepped in: "It'll probably surprise you, but you're dead wrong with this supposition."

He leaned forward: "One of those we chased, was a former Ravenclaw, who was just an ordinary wizard. Tim, that was his name, wanted to be a healer. And up to his 5th year everything seemed to be going well, he was even the best student of his year. But, all of a sudden… bang!" He slammed his fist on the table, and not only Minerva flinched, startled.

Undeterred, Ron continued: "His grades dropped, he started failing all of his classes and withdrew from his friends. His parents, by the way, both of whom had an active role in the first war, could not explain, why he turned to the dark side."

"He was not interrogated, when he was caught?"

Ron clenched his jaw and swallowed: "I killed him, before we could question him."

The Chamber became quiet, until the treasurer of the Ministry broke the silence: "All well and good, I understand your motivations. But I have, um, we've already put a lot of Galleons in the reconstruction of Hogwarts and I…."

"7.922 Galleons and 4 Sickles!" Ron interrupted him.

"Sorry?"

"7.922 Galleons and 4 Sickles cost one prisoner of Azkaban in the year, which are 78 Galleons less, than we need for this project."

"That's a naive fallacy, don't you think!"

"It's never about the people, but always about the money." Prudently, Ron kept these thoughts to himself and replied instead: "Even though, we should not take it for granted, that the total number of crimes will drop to 0 %, but we are expecting, an appreciable decrease. With the consequence, that the Department of Magical Law Enforcement will save money."

The treasurer turned to his undersecretary and whispered something to him. Ron thanked his lucky stars for Hermione's secretary and her research.

As no further questions were thrown into the room, Minerva propped her chin on her walking stick and allowed herself a slight smile.


He'd stood there, completely relaxed, his suit jacket under his arm, shirt sleeves rolled up. A smile played on his lips, as he listened to his brother.

Hermione took in and let out a long, deep breath, before she finally gathered up her courage and approached the group.

It was, as if Ron felt her presence, he turned his head toward her and looked directly into her eyes. Hermione gave him a warm smile and his just now cold look vanished.

"You were incredible!", she blurted out. Her eyes darted to Minerva and she corrected herself sheepish: "I mean, of course, you both."

In the typical Ron-Manner, he blushed and rubbed his neck: "That was all Minerva!"

"Papalapap, Ronald!" Minerva butted in and gave him a stern gaze, "Finally, you had the idea for this project."

He shook his head: "I couldn't have done it without you and the help of the other."

As Ron and his former teacher began to argue, in a humorous way, who earned the acclaim, Hermione seized the moment. She closed the distance between them with one firm step and hugged him. Ron, who was caught unawares, stiffened.

"You can proud of you!" She rose to her tiptoes and whispered in his ear: "As I am!"

Heart hammering, she twisted her head slightly, but since her husband turned away his head, her kiss ended up, instead on his cheek, on his ear.

Fighting back tears, Hermone loosened her hold on him and settled back on her feet.

Minerva and Percy, who stood a few steps away, looked at one another, Hermione could imagine, what the two were thinking.

She stepped back and forced herself to smile: "As I said, well done."

The strained silence was broken by Percy's discreet cough: "Unfortunately, I gotta go. Professor McGonagall, hopefully, I see you soon." He nodded to Hermione and hurried away.

Hermione, who couldn't bear, to look at her husband, glanced down at her wristwatch and wrinkled her forehead: "Well, the same goes for me." She waved: "See you, Minerva, Ron." And disappeared in quick steps around the corner.

"Hermione" Minveras voice called.

Frozen, Hermione stopped up.

"Can I have a word with you?"

Hermione wiped a tear from her eye, before she turned around. Patiently, she waited, until Minerva was in front of her.

Minerva leaned both hands on the handle of her walking stick: "Don't give up, he will come around!"

Hermione's false smile vanished and her shoulders sagged: "Everyone promises me that…"

"And will be proved right in the end!" Minerva replied firmly.

Hermione leaned against the wall: "To be honest, Minerva, I'm starting to lose hope."

Minerva squeezed her arm: "I may not be an expert in matters of the heart, but I know Ronald."

Hermione smiled a little: "How you can you be so sure?"

"Quite simply, I have complete confidence in him."


Harry peered over the edge of Ron's office cell: "Any news?"

Ron stretched his hands over his head and yawned widely: "Are you kidding? We're talking about..."

"Bureaucrats!", said both simultaneously and grinned at each other.

"No appointment with Elaine today?" Harry asked curiously.

His friend propped his elbow on the table and rested his head in his hand: "Called off!"

"Aha!" – "Yeah!" – "Well, then, I'll leave you alone." Harry lifted a daily newspaper up and wiggled his eyebrows: "I have a date."

All at once, Ron's tiredness was blown away: "Hang on, Harry! Is that the latest edition?" Before Harry could even utter a peep, this newspaper was flying directly into Ron's waiting hand.

With open mouth, Harry watched, how his friend rummaged through his newspaper.

"Sometimes I hate magic."

"I'm only interested in the part about rentals. And here it is." He removed the desired part and returned the remaining pages to Harry.

Harry stared at him speechless.

Of course, Ron misunderstood the silence of his friend: "Don't worry, mate, you have the sports section."

"Y..you are looking for a flat?" Harry stuttered.

Ron hummed.

"But why?"

"I'm sick of living in the Three Broomsticks. Moreover, don't you think, it is time, that I stand on my own feet? Bloody hell, Harry, I'm 24 years old and don't even know, how much is the rent for a one bedroom."

Harry smiled weakly: "Don't forget, then you're on your own, also with the cooking, cleaning, and finance."

Ron smirked: "Who do you think, had to cook. Hermione can't even boil water. Unlike me, who is..." He puffed himself up: "a real master chef."

"Modesty is a virtue, but it won't get you far, Master Chef Ron." He smiled mischievously: "Should I ask your mother, if she can teach you beforehand some of the most important household spells?"

Terrified, Ron cried in a high voice: "Don't you dare!"

Harry waved at him with the tattered newspaper, turned around and began to whistle.


Sighing, Hermione regarded her overfilled desk. Again a long evening in the office. On the spur of the moment, she stuck out her tongue towards the stack with the unfinished paperwork.

"Harrumph." With the discrete throat clearing, her secretary, who stood suddenly in the doorway, tried to catch her attention.

Embarrassed by her childish behavior, Hermione flushed.

Mrs. Graham smiled full of sympathy: "No end in sight?"

Her boss nodded and asked wearily: "Please, don't tell me, there's more papers to sign."

"Thankfully, no. But someone from the press would like to speak to you!"

Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose: "Please, Mrs. Graham, would you be kind enough to put him off."

"Of course, but it is not he, it's Mrs…"

"Please, not so formal, call me Rita!" exclaimed the female journalist cheerful and pushed past Mrs. Graham, "Madam Undersecretary and I are old, as they say, acquaintances, ..., isn't that so?"

Baffled, Hermione and her secretary observed as if frozen, how Rita Skeeter brazenly dropped her purse on the desk and slipped off her gloves. Subsequently, she faced Mrs. Grahm and waved with the gloves: "I think, my dear, you can leave us alone now."

"I don't think so!", cried Hilda outraged, her eyes blazing dangerously.

Unimpressed, Rita sat down on the chair and turned to Hermione: "Trust me, it is in your interest, if you send your secretary out, so we can talk in private." She called over her shoulders: "No offense, my dear!"

Hermione jumped up, her palms planted on the desk, and hissed: "Get up, Skeeter, and leave, before I count to three."

"If you insist, I'll go, of course!" She picked up her purse from the desk: "But first I want to show you something!" She fished an envelope out of her pocket and pushed it over the desk to Hermione.

Hermione narrowed her eyes: "What is that?"

Rita examined her fingernails: "Have a look!"

Reluctantly, Hermione opened slowly the envelope. Her nemesis leaned back comfortably in her chair and steepled her fingers. Eagerly, she gave Hermione a look over the rim of her glasses and smiled: "Come on, dear, don't be shy!"

Hermione pulled out a photo and examined it. She paled and sank into her chair.

Worried, her secretary moved a step closer to the desk: "Is everything okay? Should I call the security service?"

A visibly shocked Hermione looked up from the photo and croaked: "Please, Mrs. Graham, leave us alone."

When Mrs. Graham did not move, she added: "Please!"

Her secretary nodded and left the office, but not without throwing a dirty look towards Rita Skeeter.

Hermione took a long, slow breath and asked through gritted teeth: "Where did you get these?"

Rita waved: "Someone sent me this envelope – anonymously, of course!"

"Of course!", Hermione repeated bitterly

"You can certainly imagine, how thrilled I was, when I received these compromising photos. It was too good to be true, our prim and proper Mrs. Granger-Weasley has an affair."

"I don't have an affair."

Rita pursed her lips: "Wow, it's already over?" She lifted an eyebrow: "You did not changed much." She shrugged her shoulders: "Whatever, my readership does not care about the status quo of the affair, they are only interested, who has betrayed whom. Guess what, all the better, when it's someone like you, who sit on a high horse."

Hermione swallowed hard and whispered: "That is what you are here for, right, to savor your victory?"

All signs of arrogance disappeared. "I'm here because, I couldn't help but notice, that on one of the photos Whitaker looks directly at the camera, which allows only one conclusion…"

"He knew, that someone shot photos!". complete Hermione and closed her eyes for a moment.

"Yeah, it's safe to assume, that he is behind it. You can put yourself lucky, that the relationship between my niece and your lover ended not very nicely, to say the least, and I have a score to settle with him. No way, that I'm playing into his hands!"

Hermione straightened herself: "What do you mean?"

"I mean, blood is thicker than water, or in this case, as business, and I will not publish the photos." Lost in thought, she muttered to herself: "Although it is a real shame, to let slip away such an opportunity." With a sigh, Rita got up and pointed to the envelope: "Now, it lies in your hands, what to do with them."

At the door, she turned around again: "One more thing, Madam Undersecretary, bring your personal life in order. I would not have hesitated, if you fooled around with another guy. Next time, I'm not that stupid, do we understand each other?!"

"I don't fool around, not with him or any other man." Hermione angrily disagreed.

Rita laughed out loud: "The photos speak a different language, have a look at the other." She waved her gloves and called out: "Cherrio!"

Hermione took the envelope into her trembling hands and pulled out the next photo.


Ginny stepped out of the Hermione's fireplace. Without making the effort, to wipe the ashes of her clothes, she called out immediately: "Hermione, are you there?"

"Merlin, Ginny, do you have to shout like that?" complained Hermione, who came into the room.

Ginny plopped down on the chair: "You will not believe, what my stupid brother intends to do!"

Hermione wrapped her arms around her torso and smiled wearily: "Do I really want to hear it?"

"What?"

"Nothing." Hermione waved: "Go on and spill the beans!"

Ginny glanced searchingly at her sister-in-law, who looked awful with dark circles, due to the lack of sleep, under her red-rimmed eyes. She pointed to the couch and asked gently: "Maybe is better that you also sit down!"

With a sigh, Hermione followed her request.

"Your husband told Harry, that he is looking for his own flat, and now brace yourself and listen to this! He does that because of…"She make an air quote: "self-discovery"." She laughed: "I wonder, where he picked this up!"

Hermione massaged her temple and said nothing.

Ginny's smile faded and she studied her thoughtfully friend: "Earth to Hermione? Did you hear me?"

Her sister-in-law sighed: "Loud and clear!" She bit her lips and looked aside: "Maybe I should follow suit."

"Excuse me?"

Hermione waved her hand around the room: "The flat houses to many memories."

"Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger? The Hermione I know, is as a fighter!"

Hermione jumped up and paced around the room: "Let's face it, Ginny, I'm fighting a lost cause. Your brother starts to move on and there is no reasonable chance, that he will forgive me. For me, all that remains is my career." She laughed bitterly and clasped her hand to her forehead: "Oh, I forgot, which is also on the brink."

Ginny's eyes widened shocked: "Why is your career on the brink?"

Her friend stopped her pacing and called wearily: "Accio envelope!"

A few minutes later, Ginny pulled out a photo from the envelope and examined it curiously. She pointed a finger at the man in the photo: "I suppose, this is…"

"David Whitaker, yeah."

"Not bad." – Hermione grimaced. – "Oops, that sounded wrong, I meant, of course, it's not so bad, what you see in the picture. Finally, you only see a man in front of a door, knocking and waiting!"

Hermione nodded her chin towards the envelope: "There are more."

"All right then, let's see. The asshole again, ooh, crap, Hermione." Ginny covered her mouth with her hand. In this photo, it was clearly her sister-in-law, who poked her head furtively outside the room door. Ginny glanced up and inquired her friend timidly: "It isn't going to get any worse, or?"

Her sister-in-law bit her lips and said nothing.

The next photo showed, how a smug David Whitaker left Hermione's hotelroom. His hair, which had been neatly combed, was now disheveled.

Speechless, Ginny studied the picture, she could literally feel, the anger rising in her.

"Ginny?" Hermione asked timidly.

Gritting her teeth, Ginny looked up and snapped: "Didn't you say, there's nothing going on between you and him?"

Shocked by her outburst, Hermione stared at her.

"You know, to me, it looks like as if he just came from a quick encounter with his lover!" She spat.

"Ginny, there was nothing!" Hermione looked at her imploringly.

Ginny's face hardened: "Nothing is probably an understatement, you kissed, for merlin's sake!" Tears welled up in her eyes and she threw the photos on the table: "How could you do that to my brother?"

Hermione's eyes darkened and she shouted: "What you want to hear, Ginny? That I made a mistake? For this, I don't need you, I know it myself!" Breathing heavily, she shut her eyes for a moment. "Every morning reminds me the empty side of the bed at the probably biggest mistake of my life." Her voice trailed off into a whisper, "And that for the rest of my life!"


In a bad mood, David stepped out of the elevator, with absolutely no interest in small talk. Unfortunately, on his way to his own office, he passed the outer office of the 'Head of the Department of Magical Law'.

As the secretary of his boss, Mrs. Tanner, chirped: "Mr. Whitaker!", he would have liked to spin round on his heel. She beckoned him closer and he stopped at her desk.

"The boss wants to see you urgently!" She leaned forward and whispered: "What you have done, I've never seen him so furious as today."

Before David could ask, what had happened, stormed the Head out of his office and cried impatiently: "Maggie, did you finally…" When he saw David, he stopped in his tracks and barked: "Whitakter, my office, now!"

Perfectly poised and sure of himself, David winked at Mrs. Tanner and followed his boss in his office.

"Shut the door and get closer!" ordered the Head and cast a silencio spell on the door.

"Sir, what happened?" Reluctantly, David approached the desk, on which photos were distributed, and sat down on the chair.

The Head pushed the photos together and threw them into the lap of David. "Do you know something about this shit?" he hissed with barely suppressed rage.

David glanced down at the photos down and gasped: "What the hell?" Shit, where he gets these photos.

"I'm waiting!"

He glanced up and lied: "Of course not, Sir, I see these for the first time." He ran his tongue over his lips: "If I may ask, Sir, where did you get these?"

"My Undersecretary received this from a secret source." He sat down on the corner of his desk: "Know what's funny? She is firmly convinced, that you want to discredit her thereby."

David snorted: "This is ridiculous, Sir, I broke up with her and now she seeks revenge." He pointed to his nose: "Here is the proof. When I put an end on to our affair, she embarked upon me like a Berserker and broke my nose"

The Head kept a straight face: "To be honest, Whitaker, I never liked you, and now it seems, for a good reason."

David's jaw clenched in anger and he clutched the photos so tight, that the edges crumpled.

"Unfortunately, I still have no evidence for Mrs. Granger-Wesleys theory. But if it turns out, that you had something to do with it, then I swear to merlin, your crooked nose will be least of your concerns."

He held out his hand: "And now, give me the pictures back, so I can keep these safe."


Frowning, Ginny observed the scene before her.

Her brother sat with a young, good-looking, woman around a table. Both seemed to have a good time, at least judging by their laughter.

As she approached the table, she picked up a few snippets of conversation.

Ron rubbed his chin: "Come to think about it, maybe I'll get a dog!"

"So, pets allowed?" inquired the unknown woman.

Her brother grumbled: "If it were up to me, dogs, but no cats allowed!"

"I'll see, what I can do!" The woman laughed melodically.

Ginny coughed, to draw attention to herself, and two pairs of eyes turned to her. She smiled and asked exaggerated courteously: "Ron, can I talk to you?" – She gave his female companion a meaningful look: "And if possible, alone!"

Upset by her disorder, Ron growled: "Then you'll just have to wait, Ginny, until we're done!"

The other female patted Ron's arm: "That's okay, Ron, I have to go anyway!" She rose up from the chair and gathered her notes: "I'll contact you as soon as I've found suitable properties."

Ron stood also up, grabbed her coat and asked politely, naturally not, without to blush: "May I?" Smiling, she nodded gratefully and Ron helped her into the coat.

Ginny stared at him in pure disbelief. After the stranger was gone, Ginny asked him sweetly: "Do I want to know, who this ravishing beauty was?" Ron, unwilling to respond to these snappy remarks, walked up the stairs, closely followed by his sister.

Who, not pleased with his silence, urged an answer from him: "If you have not understood the hint, I'm curious, who…

Without stopping, Ron turned his head and snapped: "That's none of your damn business."

In a huff, murmured Ginny: "Merlin, I can ask you a question, can't I. Unless this woman is.."

"Her name is Carol Turner and she helps me with the flat-hunting. Happy?" Ron hissed and opened door to his room.

She entered the room after him: "You can call off this flat-hunting, and Mrs. Sunshine, right away, since you will return to….." Cringing, she paused and gasped: "Oh my…..it looks like a pigsty in here."

Ron shot her a dark look.

She shrugged her shoulders in a "does not matter" gesture and flicked her wand – observed by her bewildered brother.

When his clothes flew across the room, he asked finally: "Bloody hell, Ginny, what are you doing?"

"As you see, I'm packing!"

"Stop it!" He placed himself in her way: "Outright!"

She tried to push him out of the way: "Get out the way!"

"Nope!"

She put her hands on her hips and threatened him: "Ron, I will not hesitate to use the Bat-Bogey Hex."

"You don't dare."

Huh, flickered something like fear in his eyes!? She narrowed her eyes and warned him: "Do you want to take a chance?" No sooner, she uttered the last word, she stood wandless before him.

He tucked her wand in his pocket: "From time to time, it has its advantages to be an Auror." He folded his arms over his chest: "Now tell me. What is this about?"

She flopped down on the bed and rested her head in her hand: "You must return to your wife and if possible, before the Wizarding World get wind of the rumour, you know, the gossip factory is working overtime. We don't want them to think, there is any truth in this. I bet, the bastard leaked the photos to Mrs. Horrible, although, this time we have to be grateful to her…."

"Pipe down!", shouted Ron. He turned the chair round, straddled it and faced her: ""Honestly, Ginny, I don't have the foggiest idea, what you're talking about."

"There are photos!"

Ron froze: "What kind of photos?"

"From Hermione's evening, in Stockholm." She whispered and gave him a pitying glance: "On a photo you see, how Hermione lets the asshole into her hotel room."

Except, that his hands gripped the back rest, he showed no reaction.

– "She is in a desperate state, because these photos can harm her career."

"Aha! Therefore, the wind blows. My wife's career is jeopardized and now I have to play the loving husband, am I right?"

Surprised by his calm behavior, she asked hesitantly: "Ron, you're not going to sit back and do nothing, right?!"

"Ginny, what do you want from me? Should I solve her problems, even though, it's all her own fault? We are not a teenager anymore, Ginny. When she invited him to her bloody room, she doesn't care, that she is married, just as, when she kissed him!"

"Ron, I… " Ginny runs out of words.

"No, Ginny, that's my final word. And I ask you, stay out of it too!", he begged her.

Ginny sighed and glanced aside: "I can't, You know very well, that Hermione is my best friend!"


With a deep sigh, Hermione sat down on the garden bench and glanced around her mother's garden.

She breathed in the crisp, clear air, while the breeze ruffled her hair. As she began to shiver, she zipped the jacket up under her chin, snuggled into it a little more, and tucked her hands in the jacket pockets. Despite the cold, it felt good to be outside.

She could hardly remember, when she perceived so conscious the changing colors of the leaves. Perhaps it's actually not such a bad thing, that she will soon have plenty of time, to enjoy her favorite season to the fullest. Tears welled up in her eyes, at the reason for her free time.

As she heard the distinctive crunching of leaves behind her, she quickly wiped with the back of her hand the tears from her cheeks. She turned her head and put a forced smile on her face: "Dad, I swear…" but, instead of the familiar form of her father, stood none other than her husband beside the bench.

He pointed to the empty seat: "May I?"

Dumbfounded, she could only nod. As soon as he was seated, he stretched out his long legs in front of him and inhaled deeply. Like her, he loved the autumn, followed closely by the Ronald's fifth season: Christmas.

Hermione glanced down at her lap and asked timidly: "You've heard about it?"

"They call our gossiper Ginny not for nothing Ginny Skeeter", he tried to joke.

She swallowed and her eyes, once again, filled with tears: "It was anyway only a matter of time!"

He looked at her from the side and inquired softly: "And how do you feel?"

She took a shaky breath: "What do you think? My husband, looking for a flat, prepared himself for a life without me." She felt, how his body tensed at her words, and for a brief moment, she hoped, that Harry had misunderstood something. But when he didn't deny the flat hunting, she went on: "And now, where my career is going straight down the drain – I feel really lousy, to say the least."

He was silent for a moment, then he nudged her with his shoulder: "Who is now the alarmist? You've still got a brilliant career in front of you."

Her response was a resigned shrug of the shoulders: "I should draw the consequences of this scandal and announce my resignation, before I'm forced to do!"

He furrowed his brow: "Scandal?" – She sniffed, her shoulder slumped. – "Don't exaggerate, Hermio…"

She raised her voice: "You think, I'm exaggerating? Does the headline' Hermione Weasley's extramarital affair' ring any bells?"

"There was and never will be such a headlining!", he replied convinced.

"How do you know for sure? All it takes is, that someone from the hotel staff can't keep the mouth shut or more photos show up."

"And if? The headline of today, is the headline of tomorrow! And Whitaker won't dare to tell anything."

Sighing, she confessed: "My boss was not exactly delighted, I have the feeling, that he is profoundly disappointed in me!"

There was not the faintest trace of gloating on his face "I think, it is a good sign, that he does not ask for your resignation or withdrawal."

"Not yet!"

He furrowed his brow in an expression of disapproval "Do not you see? If you give up, then Whitaker has achieved his goal, then he has won!" – Thoughtfully, she glanced at her husband. – "Somewhere hidden, is the Hermione Granger, who punched Malfoy. By the way.." He winked at her: "I swear, right then, I fell in love with you."

A hint of a smile touching her lips: "You are right!" She jutted her chin forward and pushed her shoulders back: "The only career, which should finished, is David's!"

"That's spirit!" He laughed, which did not reach his eyes. David!

She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her nose.

'Talking about nose' – he scratched his chin: "I heard, you broke his nose."

Pugnaciously, her eyes flashed and she clenched her fist: "He can be happy, that it was only his nose."

To hide his smirk, Ron cupped his hands and blew into them.

"Ron?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you!"

"No problem!" He smiled.

Both looked at each other in silence, until Ron put his hands flat on the thighs: "So, unfortunately, I have to go.."

Crestfallen, Hermione bit on the lip and nodded.

He got up and pushed his hands deep into his trouser pockets. Briefly, he gazed over Hermione's head to the house of his parents in law , before he glanced down at her: "I suppose, I will see you on Thursday?!".

Her eyes widened: "I…I thought…. You are coming to the meeting?"

"Sure, I have nothing else to do and the sports fanatic meet up again until spring, so I can also come to the meeting. If it's okay with you, I mean.."

She nodded eagerly: "Of course! Although, I should probably warn you…"

He looked at her questioningly.

"The current theme is the relationship with our parents or in-laws, how they affect our relationship."

He groaned out: "You are joking."

"Nope!" She chuckled.

Grumbling, he turned and walked away.

She listened to his slowly faded steps and whispered: "I love you. I love you very much, Ronald Weasley!"


Jean peered so intensely out of the kitchen window, that she didn't even notice her husband, who stood beside her. He also stared into the garden, but actually without knowing why. Finally, he asked curiously: "Is that stupid cat of our neighbors again in our garden?"

His wife flinched and cluchted her heart: "My god, Peter, do you have to sneak up like that?"

Her husband grinned: "It is not my fault. You would not notice me, even if I had made a tap dance."

She lifted an eyebrow: "And I learn only now, that you can tap-dance. Confess, my husband, dear, have you been keeping other mysteries from me?"

"Very funny. Tell me better, what's going on outside."

She bit her lip and confessed: "Our daughter is in the garden."

Her husband's eyes lit up with delight and he turned to the door, which lead in the garden.

Jean's eyes widened in alarm and she called: "No step further, darling, you stay here with me!"

He stopped, but pouted: "Why I am not allowed to greet my little girl?"

"Ron is with her, that is why!"

"Ooh?" He twisted his lip into an odd expression, but suddenly the penny dropped: "Ooh!"

They both stared into the garden. Peter sighed: "I would now like to fly on the wall"

"Me too!" Jean admitted with a sigh.

Suddenly, her husband grinned: "Sweety, an idea strikes me! Do you remember George's gift to my last birthday?"

His impish grin spelled downright anger and she replied hesitantly: "Yeah, a box of odds and ends from his shop."

He tut-tutted: "Jean, this isn't odds and ends. In any case, among them is a bug, of course, not a bug, more like an ear." In his head, the plan has already taken shape: "If I attach it to my fishing rod, I could bring the ear closer to the two."

As he was about to go, likely to fetch the thing, she held him by the sleeve and chided: "You will not do such a thing, Darling!"

Crestfallen, he grumbled: "You're a real spoilsport."

Jean looked outside again and shrieked: "Anyway, it's too late, Ron comes, act natural!" She jumped to the sink and grabbed the kettle, while her husband run around like a headless chicken. Just as the door opened, he plopped down on a kitchen chair and faced his wife: "And then I said, her son needs a dental brace.."

Ron knocked at the door frame: "Hey!"

Peter faced him, feigned surprise: "Oh, Ron, I didn't know, that you are here."

Jean lifted the kettle: "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Or a game of chess?" offered his father-in, not entirely altruistic.

Ron glanced down at his wristwatch and furrowed his brow: "Maybe some other time. For now, I gotta go."

Jean approached him and stroked his arm "You promise?"

Her son-in-law smiled, nodding: "I promise!"

When he wanted to turn around, his mother-in-law stopped him: "Not so fast, my dear, let's put wood behind the arrow. How does warm apple pie sound, let's say, on next Sunday?"

Her son-in-law beamed and rubbed his stomach: "Warm apple pie, hmm, I'll be there!"


Ron straightened his tie one last time, but before he could raise his hand to knock, the door opened already.

His date folded her arms and greeted him sternly: "Just in time, Mr. Weasley!"

Ron held out his arms with a broad smile: "Is a Side-Along Apparition acceptable?"

Shaking her head, she linked her arm with him: "Let's go!"

He gave her a lopsided grin: "I'm flattered, that you put your life in my hands." - She rolled her eyes, but her mouth twitched with amusement - "Then it is better, if I don't tell you, what happened to me during my first apparition exam."

"You know what, you do not tell me about your exam and in return, I tell you nothing of the last wizard, who has been getting on my nerves."

"Merlin, why I always ended up with bossy witches." Ron joked and with a loud crack both disappea