Ron and Harry had been gone 5 days already and their respective wives were missing them. But this Friday night they decided not to mope around but have a girl's night out. They went to dinner at the Leaky followed by the Muggle cinema which Ginny had grown to love over the years. And now they had returned to Grimmauld Place to gossip and drink wine.

"You know," Ginny said as she sipped her Chardonnay, "Harry was cute because he was jealous about Adam! Adam, our PR manager. He was convinced Adam was into me until we ran into Adam and his boyfriend at a bar in Liverpool when we were there for a match. It was hilarious."

Hermione, sipped her rose and laughed. "Well, your brother's jealous streak has never gone away. But I have my ways of calming him down."

"Aaahhh!" Ginny yelled as Hermione laughed. "Don't want to hear about it!"

Hermione laughed some more and caught a glimpse of the time, "Oh, I better get home. I do have to go to the office tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is Saturday, Hermione!"

"I know but I have this big presentation on my latest attempt to improve House Elves rights next week and I need to work on it. The Ministry is nice and distraction free on Saturdays."

"Never change, Mrs. Granger-Weasley." The friends and sisters-in-law hugged as Hermione headed for the large fireplace in the lounge.

"Same goes for you, Mrs. Potter."

Hermione arrived back in their flat moments later. She sighed a heavy sigh; it was empty and quiet. It always seemed too quiet when Ron was gone. That's the real reason she was going to the office on Saturday, she couldn't stand her Ron-less flat. She changed into pj's which consisted of shorts and Ron's old Quidditch jersey and climbed into her bed which felt cold and too large without her ginger husband.

"Come back to me, Ron. I love you." And she drifted off to sleep.

The next afternoon, Harry entered his lounge and called, "Ginny! Gin, are you here?!"

"Oi, Harry," she yelled as she entered the room, "Must we be so loud? Your wife may have imbibed too much wine last night." But once Ginny got a better look at her husband, she knew something was wrong.

"Harry," she questioned, fear in her voice.

Harry grabbed his wife in his arms and kissed her, "What's wrong?"

"Gin, where is Hermione? I went to their flat and she wasn't there. Is she here?"

"No, Harry. What's going on?"

"Gin, Ron was hurt on our mission and he's at St. Mungo's. He was hit by a spell that none of us recognized." Ginny gasped and Harry embraced her again.

"Go to the Burrow and get your parents to St Mungo's." Ginny nodded her head and headed out of the room to grab her shoes and purse.

"And check Hermione's office. She said she was going in today to do some work."

"Yes! I'll go there right now. If she isn't there, I'll send her a patronus. I really want to see her instead of sending her a message."

Ginny strode towards the fireplace but she grabbed Harry before she left, "How bad is it?"

"It's hard to say Gin, we just don't know what he was hit with. But when I left half a dozen healers were working on him. He's in good hands." She kissed him.

"I'll meet you there." And she flooed to the Burrow. Once her flames were gone, Harry took a deep breath, not looking forward to seeing Hermione. He knew this was her biggest fear; he hated being the one to tell her but Ron and he made a pact that if something happened to the other, they would be the one to tell the other's wife. He entered the floo, called out the Ministry and called upon his Gryffindor courage.

When he entered the Ministry Atrium it was quiet, as one would expect on a Saturday afternoon. He raced to the lifts and headed to Hermione's office on the 5th floor. The floor was dark except one light which Harry knew came from her office. She was furiously writing on a piece of parchment with 4 large, ancient looking books on her desk.

"Hermione," he called and she jumped and grabbed her wand out of habit.

"Bloody hell, Harry," she gasped when she saw him, "You scared me."

"And your husband's language has rubbed off on you." He smiled.

She rolled her eyes and returned her wand to her desk. In that moment she realized, Harry was here but should be on the mission. She stood up, "Harry, what are you doing here? Where's Ron? Is something wrong?"

"Hermione," he crossed to her, grabbed her shoulders and saw the worry in her eyes.

"He was hurt on the mission and he's at St Mungo's." She gasped and pulled free from Harry's arm to grab her wand and purse.

"Let's go." She said and jogged out of her office for the lifts.

"Hermione, stop for a second so I can tell you what I know."

"Talk and walk, Harry." She ordered.

Harry explained about the unknown spell that he was hit with and the healers trying to ascertain its origin.

As they exited the lifts, they sprinted to the floos. "What about other injuries?" She asked.

"Nothing seemed too serious beyond a bruised rib, dislocated shoulder and some cuts. It's the unknown spell that causing more concern."

Hermione nodded and reached the floo first, "Thanks Harry, I'll meet you there." And she floo'ed away. Harry followed moments later and escorted her to Ron's room. As they reached the room, a healer was heading there.

"Oh, Healer Tate, this is Auror Weasley's wife, Hermione Granger-Weasley"

"Hello Mrs. Granger-Weasley. I'm glad you're here. Most of Auror Weasley's injuries are already in the process of healing and he's awake and alert. We are still running tests to determine the mystery curse he was hit with. But on all other accounts he's doing quite well."

"So, this mystery curse hasn't done any internal damage?" She asked hopefully.

"It appears that way but we need to keep him until we discover the spell that was used in case it has effects that appear later."

"How long do you think he'll need to stay?" Harry asked.

"At least 48 hours. I suspect we'll discover the curse's origins soon. His parents and sister are already here and I should limit his visitors but I think I can let it slide this time." He smiled softly.

"Thank you, Healer Tate." Hermione said and she hugged Harry.

"Come on, let's go see him." Harry said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her towards the door. The tears she had been holding at bay since Harry arrived at her office started to spill down her face.

"Hermione, he's going to be ok." She nodded.

"I know," she said sniffing and wiping tears. "Give me a moment to collect myself and I'll join you in a moment."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I don't want him to see me like this." Harry smiled and squeezed her shoulder before he headed into Ron's room. Hermione let one more sob out, then wiped her eyes and snuck into a loo to do a cleaning spell on her face so Ron wouldn't notice she was crying.

Meanwhile, in Ron's room, Mrs. Weasley fretted over her youngest son as Harry walked into the room.

"Thank Merlin, you're ok, Ronnie."

Ron rolled his eyes, silently pleading with his father to help him.

"Molly, let's give Ron some air."

Ginny crossed to her husband with a question in her eyes. They may have only been married 2 years but they could read each other. Harry quietly answered his wife's question, "In the loo." Ginny nodded

"Oh Arthur, but I'm just so glad," Arthur wrapped his arms around his wife.

"Of course, dear." He walked his wife over to a chair.

"Mum, I'm fine. You can see me, I'm in one piece."

Harry crossed closer to Ron, hoping to help distract Mrs. Weasley, "Mate, you're looking pretty good."

"Yup," Ron answered, "But these Healers want me to stay at least 48 hours as they determine that mystery curse. I may go mental in here."

"Oh, don't be such a baby," his sister said, "you'll figure out something to occupy your time."

Ron whispered to his sister, "As long as you help make sure Mum isn't here every waking hour. I love her but you know how she is.

Ginny winked, "I'll figure something out."

Ron smiled and let out a sigh. And then the door opened, everyone turned toward the door and smiled at the new person who joined them.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her husband looking almost totally normal. A few cuts and his arm in a sling but otherwise he looked ok.

"Thank Merlin," she said. She crossed to his bed but saw something in his eyes that made her stop in her tracks. His eyes usually sparkled when he saw her but now there was no recognition.

"Are you another Healer?" He asked.

Ginny laughed, "What kind of joke," but she was interrupted by Healer Tate. Hermione had a terrible feeling in her stomach as she stepped back to let the healer in.

"Auror Weasley, we believe we know what kind spell you were hit with."

"Great," said Ron, slightly uncomfortably, "But could we maybe talk about it with family only?" He nodded at Hermione and then spoke softer to the Healer, "Information has a tendency to leak to the press."

"Son, you can't mean," Arthur started but again Healer Tate interrupted as he started to put something together.

"Of course, if you'll excuse us miss?" He glanced at Hermione with a pained expression and walked her out the door. She glanced at Harry, who was as shocked as her but didn't argue with Healer Tate as he guided her out of the room.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Granger-Weasley,"

"It was some kind of memory curse, wasn't it? He didn't recognize me when I walked in."

Healer Tate nodded sadly, "Yes though we aren't sure exactly which one."

Hermione sat down in a chair in the hallway. "Why did he remember everyone else?"

Healer Tate placed his hand on her shoulder, "I'm not sure but if you are the only one he does not remember, it will narrow down the options which will help us. Now, I think it's best if you don't join me again in the room. We need to keep Ronald calm and telling him about you before we know the extent of this curse feels unwise."

Hermione was silent as tears fell down her cheeks. She looked at the Healer but, again, didn't argue.

"I'll, of course, keep you posted as I would any other spouse. I hope you understand."

She just nodded, knowing nothing but a sob would come out if she attempted to speak. Healer Tate gave her another sad smile and turned to enter Ron's room. Hermione rose and went to the waiting room where she didn't try to hold in her sobs.

Given this new information, Healer Tate thought it best to approach Ron with less specifics than he originally planned. But if his wife really is the only thing he cannot remember, the Healer knew this case was going to be even more difficult than he thought.

"Thank you for your patience, Auror Weasley. So, as I was saying, we believe you were hit with a memory curse. However, as there are many variants, we aren't sure which curse hit you."

"Memory curse?" Ron asked, "That doesn't seem right, I can't think of anything I've forgotten." His family members all avoided eye contact which didn't go unnoticed.

"That's why I would like to ask you some questions and then hopefully we can narrow down the curses from there. Maybe your family wouldn't mind retiring to the waiting room and I'll fetch you when we're done?"

Ron's family, who were all confused by what transpired when Hermione entered the room agreed to leave. Ginny rounded the corner to the waiting room first and found Hermione curled in a chair sobbing. She wrapped her arms around her friend.

"They'll figure out what's happening with Ron, I promise. And before you know it, everything will be back to normal."

"He didn't know me," she sobbed, "There was no recognition in his eyes."

Harry knelt in front of his best friend, "I know it's disheartening but the best healers are here, they will figure this out." Hermione just sobbed as the elder Weasley's took seats in the waiting room.

Thirty minutes later, Healer Tate, joined the family in the waiting room. "Why don't you all follow me to a private conference room. Minister Shacklebolt has requested to join this meeting." Everyone followed the Healer but Hermione's nerves were even more on edge now.

When they entered the room Kingsley Shacklebolt was already present.

"Hello everyone. I'm glad to hear that physically Ron is going to be fine. But maybe Healer Tate can enlighten us on this memory curse."

The Healer, not used to speaking to the Minister for Magic, cleared his throat and addressed the room.

"Though I need to wait for the results of my latest tests, it's my belief that Auror Weasley was hit with a specific memory spell called Memoria Impedimentum Sempiterne. It's a highly complex spell and difficult to detect which is why it didn't come up on any of the original scans. And the spell caster needs specific knowledge of the victim," he swallowed hard and looked sadly at Hermione, "Because the spell removes one specific person from the victim's memory. Wipes every memory of that one person. In this case, it's clear, that person is his wife."

Mrs. Weasley gasped as Hermione stared ahead silently. "How do you know for sure it's Hermione?"

"He didn't recognize me, Molly," Hermione answered weakly.

"And we did ask him a variety of questions. Every aspect of his life and the war he seemed to remember. But when I asked him his wedding date, he thought it was a trick question. And then I asked who he met on the train on his way to Hogwarts the first time and he only mentioned Auror Potter. And everyone in the Wizarding world knows the Golden Trio met on that train."

The room was silent, the weight of this news getting heavier and heavier.

"I am sorry Mrs. Granger-Weasley. It's a nasty curse meant to cause emotional harm not just to the victim but to the person who is removed from the memory."

"Death Eaters used that curse in the first war, I remember when it was outlawed in '82 for good reason." Kingsley added.

"But we know what the curse is now. What is the counter curse?" Ginny asked.

Tate looked at Kingsley, as he assumed the Minister knew the unfortunate answer.

"The counter curse can only be performed by the spell caster."

Harry sighed and also exchanged a look with Kingsley. "We don't know where she is, do we?" The Minister asked.

Harry shook his head no.

"Who?" Hermione's demanded, "Who cursed me out of my husband's memory?"

Harry avoided Hermione's eyes, "Alexis Dolohov."