"I can't believe you let her use your cloak!" Ginny snarled at her husband as they returned home after Ron's family meeting.

"I know," Harry grumbled, "I knew it was a mistake but I - I don't know I just feel so bad for her."

Ginny turned to her husband and wrapped her arms around his waist. "And I love you for that. But we need to check on her. Let's just hope she didn't close the floo again.

"What do you imagine we'll find? How do you think she'll be?" Harry asked nervously.

"I don't know. But it will be emotional, no doubt. I know you don't love handling emotions so I can just go."

Harry did consider it for a moment, he was always a bit awkward with an emotional Hermione. But he felt like this was his fault and he should help clean up the fallout.

"No, I'll join you." She kissed him and grabbed his hand as they headed for the floo.

"Harry," Ginny suddenly spoke up, "what if he never gets his memory back? What if they can't find their way back to each other? What does life look like without them as….them?"

Harry signed, "I don't know, Gin. It's hard to imagine them not together. But I suppose Ron made a good point; we can't expect them to just pick up where they left off."

Ginny hugged Harry tightly, "I feel guilty."

"Why, love?

"I'm here, with you, happy as I've ever been. And my best friend's life is being torn apart. And my brother doesn't even realize that he's lost the love of his life."

"I get that, Gin. I don't think there is anything we can do but support them. Both of them."

She sighed and kissed him, "Let's go." They went into the floo and were relieved when Hermione's floo wasn't closed. But that relief didn't last because as they exited the floo they nearly got smacked in the face by a flying book.

"Bloody hell!" Ginny yelped. They took in the lounge and saw boxes being magically packed. They cautiously walked toward the kitchen and saw the dishes being magically wrapped and gently placed in boxes.

"What's she up to?" Harry asked.

"Hermione!" Ginny called.

And from the hall that leads to the bedroom she appeared, her hair and clothes were a mess and she had a slightly manic expression on her face.

"Oh, hey you two." She said with a bright voice.

Ginny and Harry exchanged glances; this is not what they expected.

"Um, hi," Harry replied, "Hermione,"

"Harry, can you help me with some of the boxes in the bedroom. And then Ginny, maybe you finish up in the kitchen?"

"Hermione," Ginny started.

"Oh and then I'll probably need both of you to help me in the office."

"Hermione," Ginny said again, standing in front of her friend and gently placed her hands on her shoulders. "We'll help anyway we can but first can you explain what is happening?"

Hermione smiled at her friend, "I'm taking control." And then she turned and headed back for the bedroom.

Ginny looked at Harry and silently asked, what does that mean? So, they followed her down the hall, "Hermione, can you explain that?" Harry asked softly.

She turned around and saw the confused expressions on her friends faces. She smiled, "From the moment this started, I allowed the Healers to control this situation and that was a mistake. I've been doing research on Muggle memory loss and dementia and I have some ideas that could help Ron regain his memory. To start, I am moving out and giving the flat to Ron. He needs to be in a familiar place in order to remember our life here. Then, eventually, he needs to actually talk to me but I know that will take a bit of time. But I need to take a much more active role in his recovery. And the flat is the first step." She was speaking quickly but definitely had a Hermione tone they were familiar with. Ginny and Harry just weren't sure if what she was trying to achieve was realistic. Dementia and dark magic are hardly the same thing but neither thought that it was prudent to bring that up right now.

"Would you two mind telling Ron about the flat? Make sure he knows before he starts prepping to move to Hogsmeade?"

"Sure, of course." Ginny responded.

"And what about you, Hermione?" Harry asked, "Where are you going to live?"

"My parent's." She answered while wrapping picture frames.

"In Australia?" Ginny gasped.

"Oh, heavens no," Hermione laughed, "There house outside London. You know we usually have renters but a few months ago our long-term tenants moved to Bristol. I meant to get new tenants but it happened around the same time as," she looked at Ginny, "you know that thing a few months ago and I just never got around to it." Harry glanced between Ginny and Hermione not knowing what 'that thing a few months ago' meant but Ginny gave him a pointed look that meant, 'we'll talk later'.

"Anyway," Hermione continued, "it will work out well. I don't suspect I'll be there too long though. I'll be back in the flat with Ron, living our life again very soon."

Though her determination was nice to see her friends worried about these unrealistic expectations she was placing on the situation.

"Hermione," Harry said, "I think it's incredibly kind of you to give up the flat. But I do hope you're being realistic." Hermione stared daggers at him.

"No. Keeping my distance, not having him come straight home from the hospital was a terrible idea. He needs me, he needs his home. And once that happens, it will all come back to him. I know it!"

"Sure it will, Hermione." Ginny shot Harry a look that said, drop it. "Now, remind me where you need me?"

The girls left the room and Harry was left totally dumbfounded.

"Harry," Hermione called from the kitchen, "Can you start minimizing the boxes in the bedroom for me please? Thanks!"

He headed for the bedroom feeling a variety of things from confusion to worry. But he did what he was asked and hoped his wife could clear things up for him later.

Wednesday morning, Ron entered the Ministry of Magic for the first time since before the last mission. When he arrived at the Auror Department he was met with welcome backs and good to see yous. He waved and acknowledged his co-workers but still headed straight to the boss' office.

Auror Department Chief, Wyatt Monroe was a no-nonsense kind of bloke. Willing to bend the rules a bit but never too much nor too often. So, when he saw Ron, the first thing he said was, "You aren't cleared to return, Weasley. Until I get the report from the Healers you are benched. Oh, and how are you doing?" He asked as an afterthought.

"I'm doing fine, sir, and I know, technically, I'm not cleared for active duty but I'm sure I can be of help in the office. Strategic planning, etc. I just know I'm not good when I'm idol, I need to do something."

"You know, we haven't been informed of the details of the curse you got hit with. Care to share?"

Ron nodded and explained everything leaving Monroe looking quite shocked which is a rarity.

"So, you don't remember Hermione Granger? Not one thing?"

"Nope."

"Bloody hell. I'm sorry to hear that."

Ron shrugged, "It's hard to be too upset when you don't know what you're missing."

"Look, Weasley, I won't lie, I've missed your strategic management. Get me clearance from your healer and I'd be happy to have you back early. But not without that official clearance."

Ron smiled, "Thank you, sir." He shook Monroe's hand and left the office. He ran into Harry in the outer office.

"Hey, mate!" Harry said "what are you doing here?"

"Speaking to Monroe about coming back early, not in the field but at least strategic management which he's into as long as I can get Healer Cruz to sign off. I'm going to head over St Mungo's shortly and I hope to get that from her."

"That's exciting, I know you've been going a bit stir crazy. Actually, it's good I ran into, I need to tell you something," Harry was interrupted by a few Aurors, anxious to hear from Ron.

Ron filled them in on everything including the hope that he would be back with them sooner than expected.

One Auror named Brock who was never Ron's favorite co-worked asked, "Wait, does this mean Hermione is available? I always wondered what she saw in you anyway."

He laughed and patted Ron on the shoulder in a joking way. Harry prepared himself for a typical Ron, jealous outburst but to his shock and everyone else's, it didn't come. All he said was, "I guess time will tell." Even Brock whom made the comment, meant as a joke, was stunned.

"Wow, that curse really did something, Weasley, if I had made a comment like a month ago, I'd be swallowing my teeth right now." Ron just shrugged.

"All right, guys, hopefully I'll see you before Monday. Stay safe."

Ron turned and headed for the lifts, leaving a stunned group of Aurors a lot to discuss. Harry ran after Ron and met him at the lifts.

"Where are you headed?" Harry asked.

"I have to swing by Percy's office to ask him a question. Then off to St. Mungo's for my daily appointment with Cruz."

"Ok, can I tell you while we walk? It's kind of important."

"Yeah, sure." The lift arrived and luckily it was empty.

"Look, I saw Hermione last night," Ron barely acknowledged this, "And she is moving out of the flat at Cheshire Court so you can move in. She didn't want you to have to go Hogsmeade."

Ron looked at him a bit surprised; "Wow, that's very nice of her."

"That's Hermione," Harry said.

Ron sighed, "Look Harry don't do that."

"Do what?"

"This morning I got a lecture over breakfast from my mother about the amazing virtues of my, apparently perfect, wife. Bloody hell, even Charlie was raving about her, called me crazy for throwing it all away. But no one seems to get that I don't know her. She does sound wonderful but she's a stranger to me!"

The lift opened and the men exited.

"I'm not trying to pressure you but she's giving you the flat, a place I know she loves. Why don't you just meet with her,"

"Harry," Ron interrupted, "Not now mate. Please don't pile on me."

Harry relented, "Fine, I won't. But I need to be honest, Ron. I love her like a sister and you're my best mate, I won't drop this forever. I believe you should be together regardless of your memory."

Ron nodded but said nothing else about it. "I'm going to pop into Percy's office.

"Ok, mate, talk later." Harry was feeling pretty pessimistic.

Ron entered Percy's office and asked his assistant to alert his brother to his presence.

"Ron, what are you doing here?" Percy asked from his office door.

Ron walked into Percy's office, "I need to ask you a question and I'd appreciate if you reserved judgement until I finished." Percy nodded in agreement.

"What do you know about magical divorce?"

Percy gaped at his brother, quickly closed and silenced his office door.

"That's it's rare and incredibly difficult. The criteria for divorce approval are specifically designed to discourage it."

"I assume a magical malady like mine would fit the criteria?"

"I'm not an expert, Ronald." Percy snapped not liking this conversation one bit.

"But I'm sure you know someone I could talk to? Someone who would be discreet?"

Percy sat heavily in his chair behind his desk, "I can think of 1 or 2 people."

"Thanks, Perc. I have to run; I'm meant to be at St Mungo's at 10am." He crossed for the door but Percy's uncharacteristically quite voice stopped him.

"Hermione Granger is a very special witch," Ron turned around, ready to give him the same talking to he'd given Harry moments before but Percy put his hand up to stop him. "Not because she's brilliant or brave or passionate or beautiful but because of what she brought out in you. And that's not me talking, it's you." Percy pointed at Ron.

"Not long after your wedding, I came to you because I was considering asking Audrey to marry me. I was nervous and though I never imagined asking my baby brother for romantic advice, the war changed everything. Anyway, you told me that Hermione makes you a better man not by trying to change you but by supporting you, believing in you and bringing out the best in you. You said if that's how Audrey makes me feel, I better run and propose because that doesn't come along more than once in a lifetime."

Ron stared at Percy, not sure how to respond. "I know you don't remember her; I know you don't remember that conversation and I know it feels easier to ignore it. But, Ronald, a person like Hermione only comes along once in a lifetime. This is a hurtle, a gigantic hurtle that's been placed in front of you but it's not insurmountable."

Ron sighed heavily. "Percy, how can I just jump back into a relationship I have no recollection of? I can't just fall in love with this woman because everyone around me tells me I was in love her. And what if we try again and I don't have those feelings again? Is that fair to her? Is it fair to break her heart twice?"

Percy shrugged; he didn't have answer. "If she's willing to risk it, would you be?"

"I don't know Percy; I've barely had this information for 48 hours. It's too much right now."

Percy nodded, "I apologize, you've been through a lot in a short period of time. All I ask, is don't do anything about a divorce until you've had more time to process. Until you had a chance to meet her and talk to her; you both deserve that."

"I'll consider it, Perc, but I really have to go now." With that Ron left the office and Percy returned to his chair and rubbed his temples. He hated not having the solution to a problem and this problem was a big one.