Chapter Text
“This could be the last one” Ron thought while placing the report on the unoccupied Kingsley's desk and leaving the office.
It had been 7 years since the Hogwarts battle, Harry and he had been in the aurors since then, and for sixteen months he had been thinking that the next case is the one that will end his career.
Or the one with which he will close it with.
Hermione and he had been thinking about having kids for a while, and since they started trying, he swore he'd be out of the force, because he didn't want to risk anything that could involve the child.
It was all planned, and George already had the contract ready to sign, but it didn't matter the much they tried, it wasn't happening.
He got back to his own desk and sat there for a bit, nibbled on some biscuits that he had left before reorganizing his desk out of the pile of things it had become.
Put his papers down in a pile, threw the trash out, put the cap on his tints, and got the quills on the little holder, put down the plaque with his name, and dusted out the picture of his wedding he kept in his desk, admiring his wife for a second before looking on what to work next.
But as he looked for a specific holder, holding a biscuit in his mouth the door opened, showing a nervous looking colleague.
-We need you at briefing room Ron, you definitely wanna see this.
He followed Helen across the hall into the room, Harry and other workmates were already there.
He sat next to his best friend asking if he knew what was happening, he just shrugged his shoulders looking as clueless as him.
-Okay guys, some of y'all that'd been more time here may remember our old guy “the blood purifier”
Harry and he had gotten to investigate him for
some exams, but he didn't really know more.
-if you don't, “the blood purifier” was the codename we give to this murderer, they operated towards the end of first war, meantime between the two wars, and the whole second war, getting a Kill count of 23.
Some exclamations spread across the room because of the count.
-the only information we’ve got are: his victims who were all wizards who defended the half-bloods or muggle Borns, their Mode of operation,and as far as we know, was to follow the victims and study their lives, when then found it appropriate, they would kill them and everyone with them using legal expels like bombarda, then would leave behind a note with a slur against their next victim.
-now, we are here because our friend has decided to come back. And with no other victim than Kingsley Shacklebolt himself, because of his training he got out of it with minor injuries, that's why he's absent today, now the concerning topic here is the note that was left. Ron, you might not like this.
The magic projector showed a picture of a wrinkled note that read “Fuck Hermione Granger” in the typical mentally desiquilubrated killer hand writing.
-WHAT!
Ron screamed and got up off his chair as he read it, his head making up the most horrible things he could ever imagine.
-it's ok Ron, we'll find them, but now we need to assign protection to Hermione and people to investigate.
-I’ll do both!
-you can't, but because you'll be implicated anyways, I was thinking to assign you to this case
-I'll do whatever it's needed
He said border of collapsing
-ok, we’ll discuss it and will inform you, but for now Orpington, Amorium, come here, I'm assigning you two to Kingsley's care
-Can we leave now?
Someone asked.
-yeah, you can go
Ron had never crossed the department so fast, ran across the hallway Avoiding people, trying not to crash on them and to get there as possible.
He entered the Magical law enforcement office just saying “aurors Issues” at the front desk, running into the office he knew well, hitting the door open imagining the worst.
-oh Hello, love
Hermione said so calmly, he pounced to hug her tight as he could, she accepted it, as he pushed her head to his chest.
-your heart it's going so fast ¿Are you ok?
-I am now that I'm with you
-what happened?
She said, still holding onto him
-have you heard of “the blood purifier”?
-not really
-he's a Killer, they're after you, they just told us, I was so worried I thought that I was late and they've already got you and I couldn't do nothing
-oh, wha-what? After me?
Hermione's voice stuttered as her eyes widened, she shook a little in his arms and really thought about what she was going to say.
-well, I'm-I'm right here, nothing has happened to me
The nervous could be heard in her voice
-but, Mione, we don't know where they are, or what are they gonna do, fuck we don't even know who they are
Ron was stressed, he pulled her to look at her face, she was biting her lip
-this- this is a little scary isn't it? But we're not getting anywhere by panicking and acting irrationally, I-I think it's better if we think about something else, why don't we go to lunch?
She smiled the best she could, he could die for that smile.
They both notified they were leaving for lunch, as usual, their choice was an Italian restaurant a couple streets down, where they ordered their usual pizza margarita with two sodas.
Ron was tense, to say the least, hand in his wand pocket ready to jump at anything that could come up to them.
-Ron I Promise, if they were trying to kill me, it wouldn't be in a pizza restaurant, I hope
Hermione's efforts to calm him down weren't much, but helped her from freaking out.
They got back to the ministry with a box with leftovers, Ron's hand firmly attached to hers as he walked her down to her office where his boss was ready to explain to Hermione the same thing he had said earlier.
-so, you'll understand that you need to be protected, so we've assigned two aurors that will rotate to care for you, they'll come in a minute to present themselves. We will not move you out of your house by now, but will tell of any updates.
-ok, thanks for all the efforts, I'll be more than happy to collaborate in everything I can.
Of course you would, Ron had to bite his tongue to keep him from saying it.
-and I should Take advantage of the fact that you are here to tell you that you'll be the one investigating this, Weasley, the archive has all the information about the cases. If you want to investigate, I'll see you later.
He left closing the door behind him, Ron wasn't going to stop before finding them.