Chapter 6: A Romantic Get Away

"Thanks for coming, Bill," Ron sighed to his brother, as he, Bill and Harry left the Hospital Wing near lunchtime one day in early June. "And thanks for listening. I'm sure that to Lavender, it helps." The younger redhead glanced back once to the partitioned cot belonging to his ex-girlfriend, where a nurse was just beginning to draw the curtains.

More than a month beyond the final battle, and most of the wounded had already made full recoveries and been discharged back to their families, into civilian life to move on and pick up the pieces. Only the most grievous casualties, including Lavender Brown, remained.

"I still can't believe she's going to survive," Harry shook his head in amazement. "The chances of her surviving a mauling like hers…. Well, I'd say it's one in a million!"

"What she endured at the hands of that monster was far worse than what I went through – that's for bloody sure!" Bill dabbed at some sweat on his brow, even as they had yet to set foot out into the balmy, at times even muggy, summer air.

Ron's facial muscles collapsed into an anguished expression. "So there's no avoiding it. She'll be a true werewolf, then?"

Bill nodded. "I was lucky, remember that. I only got slashed. Lavender was bitten, right in the neck – the venom would have surely taken hold within minutes. Plus, that night she was rapidly losing blood. If Hermione and you lot hadn't gotten to her when you did…" The eldest Weasley son gave his baby brother a pointed look. "I hope you've gotten around to thanking that brilliant witch of yours, Ronniekins, for saving that poor girl's life. A jolly good snog or a shag as a reward would be a start!"

Ron blushed as red as his hair, and tried to summon a scowl that still came off forced. Though Harry suspected it had more to do with the kid nickname than Bill's advice over what Ron should be doing to Hermione in bed. "Shut up."

The three men hit the grounds without breaking stride, crossing the grassy knolls until they would be far enough away from Hogwarts to Disapparate.

"But even if Lavender does get discharged one day, what kind of life will await her out here?"

"In the wizarding world?" Bill shook his head. "She'll need to create a support system. She'll have to rely on people who are true friends. People who will love her and stand by her – even during the full moon." He stared down both Harry and Ron with emphasis; Ron averted his gaze and glanced down to the blades of meadow flowers at their feet. "I was able to find a mentor in Remus, and a small community of others like me who weren't seduced by the Dark Lord's recruiting methods. And Merlin only knows what I would have done without Fleur! I'll try to guide Lavender when and where I can, but most important of all, she'll need allies."

"Are there no legal protections?" Harry cringed with sympathy.

"Nothing beyond the bare minimum, and it didn't take much for the Voldemort regime to declare those laws invalid. We must get this new Ministry to pass lycanthrope reform," Bill vowed. "Not just basic protections, but civil rights for all magical hybrid creatures! Guarantees of non-discrimination, affirmative action in employment and housing! If we can get those passed, Lavender and those like us may have a fighting chance to have a life by day even as we're forced to prowl by night."

Ron nodded firmly, grimly. "Well, if I know my girl, Hermione will fight tooth and nail to advocate for the most vulnerable! Daedalus Diggle is already consulting with her on a house elf emancipation bill - and that's just her side hustle for the time being!" He shook his head, marveling at the tenacity of his lover.

"What's she working on full time?" Bill wanted to know.

"Packing winter clothing," Ron quipped dryly.

"What, in this weather?" Bill laughed. At Ron's glower, he faltered, eyes widening in understanding. "Oh….. Right…." The Gringotts employee sighed and glanced at his watch. "Well, send her my best wishes, will you? I should be getting back to the cottage – Fleur will be waiting up with lunch!"

"Bye!" Harry and Ron waved as Bill turned on the spot and Disapparated.

The Chosen One glanced at his best mate. "Flip a Knut for who has to go Side-Along?"

"Bollocks to that! No time for it!" and Ron assertively gripped Harry by the bicep.

Harry smirked. "You're just in a hurry because you heard Bill mention – lunch!" He barely got the quibble out before Ron was turning them both on the spot and the disconcerting feeling of being squeezed through a tube in darkness pressed in on him.

Within seconds, it seemed, the boys were staggering back into the dimensional world, landing right in the Weasleys' front yard. As they approached the front door to the Burrow, Ron glanced through the open window. Harry followed his gaze; when he saw Hermione standing over the sink with her wand out, he picked up the pace.

"Dunno if she's necessarily using her magic to fix fish and chips, mate…."

They entered the kitchen to find Hermione with her back to them, her shoulders shaking with sobs as she held the tip of her wand over her forearm, the instrument hovering dangerously.

"Hermione…." Ron sprang into action, prying his girlfriend's wand gently from her fist, finger by finger. His voice was saturated with a tone more tender than Harry normally heard from him. "'Mione, sweetheart…. don't…."

She sniffled, big and fat tears rolling down her cheeks. "It…. it won't come off…."

"I know, darling. But it was a cursed blade that caused your scars. There was venom on it – worse than basilisk, too, most like!" Holding her hand tightly in his, Ron shook his head. "You won't be able to just Vanish those cuts on your arm with magic. Harry and I already tried."

Hermione let out a shuddering sob, dropping her head halfway into her palm. "So, it's true, then? It…. it will never come off….?"

Ron glumly shook his head. "No, honey….."

Watching the pathos-filled moment, Harry felt redness gathering back behind his irises. It was all he could do to keep from quaking with rage. Or stomping upstairs to ask Mrs. Weasley where she had tossed the corpse of that Bellatrix, bested by her in battle, so he could dig it up, bring her back to life and slay her all over again. He had to be grateful to Molly for taking out the sadistic harpy, even though it irked him that he hadn't gotten to Lestrange first.

He and Ron had tried every advanced spell they could think of to try and rid the bloodied carving of Mudblood etched into Hermione's skin. Nothing had worked. Bellatrix's wicked work would remain embedded in Hermione's very body, probably for the rest of her life.

Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Harry now stepped forward and wrapped Hermione in a hug. "If it makes you feel any better, Hermione, we did ask Madame Pomfrey for advice about it just now. She gave us a Healer's opinion: there's nothing she can do."

Hermione let out a tiny whimper and nodded mutely. Composing herself, she put on a weak smile as Ron cupped her face in his hands, tilted it back and kissed her sweetly on the lips. When they broke apart, her grin had broadened, albeit slightly.

"How is Lavender feeling?..." Hermione circled the kitchen table as she rolled the sleeve of her sweater up over her forearm. Harry noticed Ron studying her with wary sympathy, clearly in agony for her that she felt the need to wear unseasonable clothing just to hide a scar she didn't need to feel ashamed of. But trauma can make people do irrational, unreasonable things, never mind unseasonable things.

"Recovery is slow but steady. She's come so far from where she was, sounds like, but I'd bet my Galleons she'll still be the last discharged from the ward, rate she's going!" Ron dutifully and gentlemanly pulled out a chair for his girl. "Bill had a good talk with her – I think he's more concerned on her behalf regarding work prospects once she does get out."

Hermione smiled softly. "That's why we need lycanthrope reform."

Ron grinned, stooped and kissed her chastely again. "Too right – and it'll be you who delivers it, my love." Harry found it was nice to see Ron being so caring and supportive of her. "In the meantime…."

"…. You were going to ask what's for lunch?" Hermione finished for him, amused.

A beat. "…. Actually, I was going to ask how the investigation into your parents is going, but if you're hankering for a snack…."

She laughed – a relief of a sound to hear! – before pulling Ron into her lap, resting her chin against his shoulder as they both perused the files and documents strewn about on the tabletop. "I've been collaborating with Aurors who specialize in private eye work. Kingsley is so generous with his resources! And I just received word this morning from owl post:" Hermione cupped Ron's chin in her hand and turned his face so he could see her beaming, moist smile. "I've found them, Ron! I tracked down my parents!"

Ron let out a whoop and hugged her, even standing up all the way out of his chair so he could pick her up and swirl her around. Hermione shrieked in delighted surprise.

"That's fantastic news, darling! Where are there?! Aside from the general, which is…. in Australia."

Hermione came to rest in Ron's arms, her hands cradling his biceps as she gazed up at him lovingly. "Well, the investigative team uncovered a Wendell and Monica Wilkins running a dental practice along the Queensland coast!"

"Great!" Ron rubbed his hands together with relish. "So all we have to do now is to go get them!" At Hermione's bemused look, he faltered. "Unless…. you feel this is something you need to do alone…."

Hermione giggled musically. "Oh, Ron…." And she flung her arms around his neck. "I want you to come with me! I'm…." she ducked her head shyly to hide a blush. "I'm asking you to come with me."

Words weren't needed. In answer, Ron drew Hermione close and kissed her. As the couple embraced, beaming into each other's eyes, neither of them seemed to notice the third figure seated and listening at the kitchen table.

Harry tried his ruddiest not to feel jilted by it, but the point still remained. He had heard loud and clearly what Hermione hadn't said: Ron was going to Australia with her, but he, Harry, was not. The thought had never crossed her mind to ask him.

Watching his two best mates happily embrace and kiss, Harry silently excused himself and slipped out into the front yard where he could gaze out into the sunny distance and ponder the yawning fields of Devonshire… and try not to wallow in his own feelings of exclusion.

…. Maybe it had been presumptive of him, to assume that when Hermione had located her Memory-Charmed parents, it would be the Golden Trio back together again on another adventure. He should have known better that Hermione would rather view this as a personal pilgrimage for herself, perhaps even one of atonement – the agony over her decision to send her mum and dad away, manipulate them even if it was for their own safety, had weighed on her for much of their year on the run hunting the Horcruxes.

Besides, it did seem to be a golden opportunity for Ron and Hermione to recharge from battling Death Eaters. A chance for them to be alone, grow more intimate as a couple. After all they had done for him over the years, didn't Harry owe them that much?

Getting over himself and his feelings of exclusion that were clearly unwarranted, Harry headed back into the house. Ron and Hermione jerked apart in the middle of a very passionate and heated snog, their arms still around each other.

The Boy Who Lived smirked, much as he had when he'd first walked in on them kissing. "Don't mind me – I'm just the travel guide!" He clapped his hands together, lips pursed gamely. "So: you lot need any help packing?"

In preparing to travel halfway around the world, Hermione was as attentive to detail as ever, even more so than she had been while packing for three people to disappear into the wilderness at nearly this time last summer.

The beautiful witch was sensitive enough to bring up the topic of Harry staying behind, one evening while Ron was out playing Quidditch with Ginny. "It's not a problem," Harry assured her. "Consider this a reward for sticking by me all these years." He gripped her shoulders. "Just do what you have to do, and bring your parents home." A pause. "And keep Ron on track!"

Hermione grinned, looking oddly relieved.

After close to two weeks of planning, all the necessary arrangements had been completed to send a young witch and her new boyfriend off to Australia on what could credibly be called a rescue mission, of sorts. Arthur had worked some Ministry connections through the Department of Magical Transportation, specifically, the Portkey offices.

"It's still too dangerous to attempt Apparating or Side-Along Apparation, and certainly not that far. At least one of you would almost certainly get Splinched!" Arthur had warned his son and the girl who would likely one day be his daughter-in-law. "The Ministry is still working to get the Floo networks back up from when they were shut down by Voldemort during the war. Portkeys are the only reliable transport available at the moment!" He handed Ron a rather large shoe.

Ron smirked. "Why do Portkeys always come in as mangy old boots?"

"That's not just any mangy old boot, Ronald, my lad!" Arthur tapped the sole authoritatively. "It's an Ugg boot – common Down Under. You and Hermione will need solid footwear to traverse the terrain!" He passed Ron what looked to be the Portkey's twin. "This Portkey should get you as far as London Heathrow."

At the mention of the airport, Ron blanched, even as Hermione clutched at his arm and beamed.

"We're going to be traveling the Muggle way! Isn't this exciting, love?"

Ron's smile was more of a tight grimace. "It's the biggest thrill of my life!" he squeaked. Harry knew that would be for bloody sure, and no mistake! He knew Hermione was eager to teach Ron about Muggle life, show him her world, her heritage, but for the clever witch's sake, he hoped that Ron wouldn't end up tossing his breakfast onto that sweater of hers. Or that he would arrive in the Outback in one piece.

Hermione stood on tiptoes and kissed her boyfriend's cheek. "It'll be OK. Don't tell me that the Weasley who destroyed a Horcrux is scared of living in the Muggle world for a bit!"

Grinning smolderingly at her, Ron stole an arm about Hermione's waist and pulled her close, causing her breath to hitch. "I would never say that….."

The mangy old boot Portkey started to glow blue.

"Ron!" Arthur called out in warning.

Gripping the Portkey in one hand and his girl in the other, Ron winked at his family and Harry. "See you soon. We'll write!" Smiling breathlessly, Hermione looped her arms about Ron's neck. As the couple embraced and kissed, their entwined bodies began to spin faster and faster until a gale force finally blew them from sight, and they vanished.

Harry still had one hand raised in bittersweet farewell. "Bye! Good luck!"

He stood for a moment staring at the spot where his best mates had disappeared. After a moment, he sensed Ginny drift into his side.

"They'll be all right," she murmured. "And they'll get Hermione's parents back, you'll see."

Glancing down to her, Harry stooped and kissed Ginny sweetly on the mouth.

"Yeah. I know they will."

She started to move back to the house, before she turned and held out her hand to him. Slipping his palm gratefully into hers, Harry allowed his own lover to lead him towards the Burrow, towards home and whatever adventures might await them here.