Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I own nothing of hers!

Chapter 19

Ron entered the Ministry of Magic which was bustling with vocal wizards and witches. He noticed Harry reading the Daily Prophet at a nearby bench. As he strode toward him, Harry glanced up, and started folding his paper.

"How'd it go this morning, mate?" Harry asked, tucking the paper under his arm and standing to walk with Ron.

"Overall, pretty smooth." Ron flushed slightly recalling the happenings of that morning. Harry studied the rising blush on his skin.

"Is that because or Hermione, or did your mom mention something about the two of you shagging in her house." He said nodding toward his skin, and ending with a questioning eyebrow. Ron self-consciously rubbed the back of his neck.

"Maybe both..." Ron mumbled, as he did they passed by Kingsley Shacklebolt in the main lobby.

"Auror Weasley," his authoritative voice boomed, reaching out to shake Ron's hand with a firm grip. "I'll see you in a few hours, yes?"

"Yes, sir." Ron answered, standing to his full height. "We might be having an added guest as well." The Minister nodded his approval, and the parted ways. Harry looked over to Ron.

"Wait." He spoke, effectively stopping Ron in his tracks. Ron gave him a confused look, as they were halted in one of the busiest places at the Ministry. "You said both. What happened between you and Hermione to make you blush?" Ron rolled his eyes and pulled him to continue down a Ministry hall. "Well?" Harry pressed.

"Nothing really... She may have kissed me last night." Harry eyes grew wide and he slapped Ron on the back.

"That's progress Ron. Although, Ginny predicted that you've already been back at shagging." Ron shook his head, cursing his pale skin for showing his embarrassment.

"She's not ready for that. And if we don't figure out what happened to those bloody letters, I don't think she'll ever be." Ron stared forward, focusing on anything in front of him, rather than look at his childhood friend's reaction. Like most men, Ron and Harry did not share deep moments or personal feelings with each other often. Ron remembered the last time the two of them being so serious about something; when Harry told Ron he was proposing to Ginny.

"Look mate, she's probably just keeping herself safe." Harry felt Ron tense next to him at the word; Harry internally cringed at his clumsy choice of wording. "Not that you would harm her, but the past three years, she's thought you hated her and wanted nothing to do with your daughter. We know that wasn't true, but Hermione's all about the facts. And fact is, those letters broke her. She wants to be with you, we could all see it last night. Just... just give her time." Ron gave a curt nod of his head, as Harry sighed, and continued into an open lift to carry them to the Auror Department.

As the doors slid open, the lift pooled out, and other piled in. In this jumbled mess, Harry caught a small young woman glancing at Ron as she passed him to enter the lift, almost bumping into the wizard in front of her. Ron hardly noticed, as he was focused on what was ahead of him. The woman was Isla Hawkins, Kingsley's personal secretary.

"She's watching you again." Harry mumbled.

"Who?" Ron asked his eyes glancing slightly down towards Harry.

"Isla." Harry watched his best mate clench his jaw as the tips of his ears turned red. Ron swallowed, causing his Adam's apple to bob. "Probably still has that crush?" Harry voiced, trying to figure the reason the tall redhead has such a reaction.

"Mmm, yea, probably." Ron muttered, quickly ending the discussion, leaving Harry at a loss. As they turned down the hall, they pushed open the doors to the Auror Department. Harry murmured a goodbye as he turned to the main Auror's wing, compartmentalized into cluttered cubicles. Ron continued down, deeper into the department. He turned a sharp right, greeted the elderly secretary, and continued into his office.

He removed his outer robes and hung them on a hook as he slumped in his chair. He ran a hand over his face, exhaling deeply. Shaking his head, he took out a piece of parchment, inked a quill, and scribbled a note. Folding it properly, and casting a quick-send spell, the Ministry Memo flew from the room, quickly opening and shutting the door. He peered at the stack of files on his desk, explaining his new assignment. The very top mission was one they had been processing for a while, and was finally ready to be enacted in just a few days' time. He tapped his fingers on his desk, while he read through the strategically designed plan, one that he was asked to lead. Ron was first excited for the mission; after all, they'd been working on tracking the Death Eaters down in this specific case for over a year. But, after a moment he realized that he would be leaving Rose and Hermione for a very dangerous mission. At the thought, he conjured a Patronus and sent it with a message to Hermione, whom he thought would like to know how the morning went.

Ron walked confidently into the center of the Ministry of Magic, giving one last plead of how much he wanted answers from this meeting. He entered the hall which led to Kingsley's office, slowly approaching the secretary's desk directly outside, which was empty. He looked around, silently thanking that she wasn't there, and advanced to the Minister of Magic's door. He knocked soundly, and the door swung open revealing Kingsley and Auror Kensington.

"Please, come in," Kingsley motioned to Ron. Ron walked into the room, the door shutting behind him as he continued. "Miss. Hawkins is out running an errand for me at the moment." He shook his hand as he did earlier, Kinsley asked Ron to sit in one of the three leather chairs across from his seat, one of them already occupied by Auror Kensington. The man rose and shook Ron's hand as well, then returning to his seat, as Ron took the seat furthest to the left.

"Britton here was just catching me up on the case at hand." Kingsley spoke. "It appears as there has been some mismanagement of documents in the Post Department?" Ron nodded, and was about to speak when there was a small rapping on the door. Kingsley raised his hand and the door flung open. The Minister's face displayed his surprise as he took in the small brunette standing before them. She stood there nervously as she had not been invited in the room. Kingsley shook his head slightly and a grin spread across his face.

"Hermione Granger," He boomed. "Do come in!" Hermione released a small breath and proceeded into the large office. The door closed and sealed itself behind her. Kingsley reached forward to shake her petite hand. As he did, he took his other hand and placed it around their grasp, tightening his grip slightly. "It's very good to see you."

She smiled at this and nodded her head. "It's good to be back, sir." Kingsley laughed loudly and released her hand.

"Such formality! Please, we've all been through the war together. I will always be Kingsley to the both of you. Please, have a seat." Hermione turned and took the chair that was in the center of the three.

"Auror Kensington was contacted by Ron about some complications with the international post. He was just informing me of the evidence he has gathered when the two of you have arrived." Kingsley nodded toward Kensington to allow him to speak.

"Yes, so far I have both Ron and Hermione's statements of what they each had encountered during the time listed. I have read them over and looked into other outgoing and incoming mail from the Auror Training location. However, no one else seemed to have any concerns with their post." He looked between the three of them, all listening intently. "I asked you both to send me the letters you said were tampered with. I did a full diagnostic read of the letters Ron received and found no magical manipulation or any magical use whatsoever except for the long distance owls used to carry them. Hermione, did you bring yours today?" She nodded, and pulled out a small bundle of letters from her bag, and handed them to the Auror.

"I'll do another testing of these, but if it goes as I expect, they will have the same results as the others." He paused looking at Ron and Hermione, both having disappointment written across their faces at the lack of information he was providing. "I was running out of options to why the letters look so familiar to your handwriting, and after finding nothing to do with magic, I wondered if someone took the time to copy the handwriting exactly." Both the redhead and the brunette's heads perked at this statement.

"I cast an analytical handwriting identification spell based on samples I had of yours. It came back positive for error." Hermione turned back to Ron after Kensington's statement, making quick eye contact, and then snapping back to the investigating Auror.

"Muggles have handwriting analyzers, but they compare nothing to doing it the magical way. The errors were so slight; they wouldn't have even identified it. It's no surprise neither of you noticed it."

"So you're saying," Ron interrupted, "that someone was mental enough to study our handwriting and forge it so well by hand that it took a spell to confirm it?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Kensington confirmed, nodding his head. He reached and shuffled through a pile of parchment placed on Kingsley's desk. He pulled out a file and opened it. "I have a list of witches and wizards who worked in the Post Department, specifically the international section. Do you recognize any of the names? That could possibly give me a lead of who to look into." He handed Hermione the list as her eyes quickly scanned the page. Ron leaned forward and read through the list over her shoulder.

Eleanor Williams

Bruno Smith

Romilda Jenkens

Hiran Singleton

Rolf James

Indigo Fredrickson

Taylor Thompson

Hermione's hand lowered the paper carefully into her lap at the same moment, Ron's heart sunk. He hadn't finished reading the list, as he was wracking his brain for any familiarity of the names, but as she lowered the parchment, he knew she didn't know any of them either. She shook her head slowly as she handed the list back to Kensington.

"That's too bad. I will continue to look into this, and see if I can find any other clues as to who caused this." Kensington gathered his papers, shook their hands, and exited the room. The three were left in the office, as Hermione spoke.

"Minister," She began.

"Kingsley." He insisted.

"Kingsley, do you have time to speak with me for a few moments?" She hesitantly asked.

"Absolutely." He turned toward Ron and shook his hand a final time. "Thank you for bringing this to attention Ron. I will do everything in my power to help find who did this."

"Thank you." Ron released his hand, and glanced to look at Hermione once more before returning to his office.

Kingsley sat again and nodded at Hermione to begin.

"Well, sir-Kingsley, with all that has happened I have decided to return to England. I just finished my resignation paperwork before I came to meet with you." She swallowed, unsure of why she was feeling so nervous of speaking to an old supporter of hers. "Mr. Weasley mentioned that there was a position open in the Care of Magical Creatures Enforcement Department, and I would like to be considered for an interview."

"The job is yours." Kingsley stated simply. Hermione's eyebrows rose.

"Sir, wouldn't you like to consider other candidates and decide who would be best fit for the position? The head of my department in America has said she would be my recommendation-"

"Hermione," Kingsley said, leaning forward on his desk slightly. "When the position first opened, I mentioned to Arthur that you would be the best person for it, and that it was too bad you were still working in America. Now, you're here. Seems like a perfect fit to me. The job is yours." Hermione wasn't sure what to say. She didn't want any preferred treatment, but it seemed Kingsley made up his mind.

"Well thank you sir." Hermione was sure she would have been reprimanded for the use of sir again, when the door opened revealing a small, brunette, young woman. She was looking down at a piece of parchment when she entered.

"Minister," She began, as she looked up, taking notice that he had company. "Oh, I'm sorry; I thought you were free after that last meeting."

"Not to worry." Hermione stood as Kingsley walked them towards the woman whose eyes widened at the sight of Hermione. "Isla, this is Hermione Granger. She is the new head of the Care of Magical Creatures Enforcement Department. Hermione, meet Isla Hawkins, my personal secretary. If you can't reach me, Isla will be able to help." Hermione held out her hand as Isla brought hers up to shake as well.

"It's n-nice to meet you, Miss. Granger." Isla said, still awestruck by the woman in front of her.

"Oh, please, Hermione is fine. Pleasure to meet you as well." Hermione gave her a reassuring smile.

"So, what were you in need of Isla?" Kingsley asked.

"Oh, it can wait until you're finished, sir." Isla nodded her head once, and left the two alone.

"Was there anything else, Hermione?" Kingsley brought her attention back to their conversation. Hermione had been considering telling him about Rose. He would find out sooner or later; everyone would.

"Yes, actually." She cleared her throat. "Ron and I have a daughter. Only the family knows and, well, now you. But, I'm sure it will be spread about soon, and I wanted you to know coming from us." She internally hoped Ron didn't mind her telling Kingsley. As she looked at the man, she saw his eyebrows raise and lower as he thought.

"Congratulations. Children are a wonderful gift." He spoke with genuine warmth, and Hermione was thankful for it.

"Thank you. Shall I start tomorrow?" Kingsley told her to transition in how'd she like, and bid her a good day.

Hermione exited the corridor and decided to stop by Ron's office before picking Rose up. She walked through the Auror Department to the Special Forces Branch and looked around for the secretary to ask the direction of Ron's office. The desk sat unoccupied, which made Hermione wonder where all the secretaries had gone to that day. She searched for Ron's name when she saw a gold nameplate on a large mahogany door which read Auror Weasley. Happy to have finally found what she was looking for, she stepped closer, ready to knock, when she heard voices from the inside.

"Do we really need to talk about this now?" Hermione's brows furrowed as she heard Ron's voice muffled slightly through the door.

"Does she know?" Hermione was shocked to hear the voice of a woman as well. "Ron! Did you tell her?"

"No."

"What? I met the woman and she doesn't know about us?"

"Why does she even need to know? I mean, really Isla, what's it going to do?" Ron said so quietly, Hermione wasn't completely sure she heard correctly; was he speaking with the woman she had just been introduced to?

"I will see this woman daily. Work with her on a regular basis. I'm not having her find out another way and think I am a slag who goes around stealing other women's men!" The woman said the last part in a harsh whisper.

Hermione took a step back from the door and continued stepping backward until she stood in the middle of the corridor. Her legs turned her and carried her through to the main Floo station, as her mind raced to put together the pieces of conversation she had heard muffled through the door. 'Had Ron been in a relationship with this woman? Was he currently with her?' The thought pained her. But, what right did she have to be hurt by him seeing someone else? They weren't together. They just had a child together. They had been apart for three years. Of course he would move on. 'Hadn't he with Lavender?' She blinked back tears as the thought came. She shook her head to rid her of the idea. 'He explained that already. He was just being kind letting her stay with him.' But, was he really? Perhaps he was just trying to ease the situation to help get her and Rose to stay. She took a deep breath to compose herself as she approached the Floo terminal, taking her to the Burrow.

Ron sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It was a mistake. We both know that. We've discussed this already."

"I know." Isla said quietly, as she was looking at anything but Ron, as she leaned against the wall. Turning to him, she spoke again. "Is it true you have a daughter?" She inquired. Ron looked back at her completely shocked.

"How did you…" Ron's brows creased, completely floored because of the question being asked of him.

"So it's true?" She gave a small laugh. "Lavender and her big mouth. I just thought she wanted you to herself…" She paused and wiped a tear from her eye. "She-Hermione, still deserves to know. If the tables were turned, I'd want to know. Especially if you're still in love with her." Ron met her eyes at the statement, looking slightly guilty.

"Of course. I've known for a while, and that night proved that you're still in love with her." She gave a small, sad, smile.

Ron looked serious, and deflated. "Look, I'm sorry-" with a wave of her hand, she stopped him.

"No. It's like you said, we discussed the matter. It's done. No more apologies. Just... just tell her." She looked at Ron with sad eyes, water trailing down her cheeks.

"Alright. I'll tell her."

Isla nodded in approval, and took a deep breath as she placed her hand on the doorknob. Then she opened the door suddenly and slipped out.

Ron exhaled loudly, cruising himself for his past actions and wondered how he would tell Hermione.

A/N: I had a lovely conversation with chemrunner57 about the theories to what happened to Ron and Hermione's letters. I would love to read the theories you have! Also, so sorry for the new conflict the story brought this chapter. Their lives aren't easy, and they will always have patches where things happen. I'd like to hear your thoughts on what Ron is discussing as well! You'll find out next chapter.

(Also, this yesterday marked my one year on fanfiction! Yay!)