Ron is the youngest son, often overshadowed by his older brothers. Sometimes that is all that is needed to hold everything together.

Youngest Son

His little girl had pointed out to him that it was always the youngest sibling in the Muggle fairy tales who made a difference – the youngest brother would be the one to outwit the ogre. The youngest prince to break the spell and win the princess. Just like her Daddy helped Uncle Harry defeat Voldemort. He would pat little Rose on the head and smile, pointing out that they had help from so many others.

Rose took after her mother. She grew up quickly. She started talking and walking well ahead of her peers. She had not been especially magical at first. So it had appeared. Hermione insisted their children attend Muggle school, to better relate to Muggle life. They attended charms school on Saturdays. Rose and Hugo blended in well, until Hugo transformed the class bully into a toad. Accidental magic. Rose was so like her mother – in control of her magic. It took her parents a while to work out she had been the one using Cleaning Charms in the house when she was still in nursery. Ron had thought it was Hermione's doing while she thought it was his. Hiring a house-elf was never broached. Ron never had an elf in the Burrow, and Hermione thought it would be too much like enslavement given they were still working on improving the house-elves' lot without causing offence to the beings.

Hugo was a bit dreamy, off in a world of his own. He hardly spoke a word in contrast to his chatty sister. Hermione feared he might be autistic and took him to a Muggle healer. The healer diagnosed Hugo as being on the upper end of the functional spectrum, whatever that meant. Hugo was much like Luna was in school. His cousins James, Freddy, and Albus soon took him under their wing to protect him against any bullying at Hogwarts. Draco's kid also watched out for him, making sure he did not walk off a staircase because he had his nose in an Arithmancy textbook. No, Ron still did not trust the Malfoys enough to let Hugo stay over for the weekend, no matter what Albus said.

After the war, Ron had joined the Auror programme with Harry. A few years later, he had enough of being hexed almost every other day. There was also his family to consider. He had proposed after the war. She had accepted. They Portkeyed over to Australia to find the Grangers and return their memories so they could attend the wedding. Hermione had kept her parents out of the Death Eaters' clutches, but no one could have foreseen the speeding drunk who ran through a red light and into their car outside of Liverpool. Her last ties to the Muggle world all but cut off, Hermione dedicated herself to serving the wizarding world by working at the Ministry.

The hours she pulled were long and Ron knew he could not afford to let her worry about him getting hurt. Little Rose had come along. They needed someone to be at home for the baby even though his mum had agreed to help. It would be after Hugo's birth that Hermione's career at the Ministry really took off. The laws which discriminated against werewolves were lifted to allow them to find gainful employment. The Remus Lupin Act ensured subsidized Wolfsbane Potion were made available for those who could not afford it otherwise. Bills safeguarding the working conditions of the house-elves were debated. Hermione even took up lessons in Gobblegook to better further wizard-goblin relations.

His wife did her best but there were times when Ron wondered if she wished she had not chosen him but a more powerful wizard. He was never one for those society galas the Ministry held. Too many memories of the Yule Ball in Hogwarts' during the Triwizard Tournament. Hermione was often escorted by Harry, Kingsley, or some other high-ranking Ministry wizard. All he could do was to be there for the children when she was unable to be and pick up the slack. Noticing George starting to go off the rails, he started helping at Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes, sometimes with Rose and Hugo in tow.

Rose was a smart little witch. It did not take her and her little brother long to get into the stock. Hermione threw a fit when she was called to St Mungo's because both children got transfigured into large canaries from eating badly-potioned Canary Creams and could not change back. The reporters were there to everyone's dismay. The camera flashes always caused Hugo to react badly. They had agreed to keep their family life as private as possible despite Hermione's high status. Precautions had to be taken. Bill volunteered to do the security warding on their townhouse, just in case. Ron was certain at least one of the teachers at the children's Muggle school was an undercover Auror.

Sunday mornings was for family. Hermione promised. They managed two Sundays before a diplomatic incident had her floo-ing to Edinburgh on a Sunday for an urgent meeting. It was hard having a mom who was the most important witch in Britain, Rose shrugged. A dragon rampaging over the Scottish countryside after escaping from the French ambassador's garden was more important than flying to Brighton for ice-cream.

Ronald B. Weasley was a simple bloke. He wasn't as brave as Harry or as brilliant as Hermione. The very least he could do was to support his wife, who was out to achieve great things in the larger world. He made sure the kids got their vaccinations at St Mungo's. He took Rose there when Rose tried to Apparate far before she was ready and splinched her foot off. Most childhood scrapes he took care of at home with healing charms and potions.

He had to be there to check that George was still taking his meals after he broke up with Angie and after that scandal with his products been investigated for dangerous and illegal ingredients. George once took off on a week-long bender into Muggle London before Bill found him passed out drunk in a dumpster behind a popular pub. No one wanted to go through that again.

"Thanks for being here, Dad," Rose hugged Ron and went back to her homework. Hugo gave his father's hand squeeze, beamed a shy smile, before returning to his Arithmancy scribbles.

His wife would often Floo in just before the children's bedtime.

"Tough day at work?" Ron smiled as he looked up the couch where he had been sprawled listening to the wireless and waiting up. He gave his wife a peck on the cheek.

"You bet. Just when we thought we got the goblins back to the table, some rogue wizard had to break into Gringotts' and…"

"Enough work for now, luv. There's a casserole in the oven, and the bath is ready. If you hurry, you might get to kiss Rose and Hugo goodnight."

A welcoming, clean home. A warm meal in the oven. Simple things that made a house a home – so Mum said.

Author' Notes:

Ron is the househusband and support for Hermione in this fic. Holding the fort at home while she is busy as Minister. Looking after the kids and their Uncle George.