This is a sequel to "First" and begins where the epilogue ends. This will be longer and fairly angst-y as well but I hope you all still like it. I have always wanted to end "First" with Ron coming back and Hermione having to make a real decision between the two men.
"Er… Hey, 'Mione. Long time no see, huh?" Ron shrugged.
"Stupefy!" Hermione called out, pointing her wand at Ron as he went rigid and couldn't move.
"Jesus! Hermione, what the fuck?" Draco looked back at her in disbelief.
"Bring him inside." She said quickly making a spot on the couch to lay him on as Draco levitated him inside.
"Hermione, I'm not a fan of your dead exes showing up either but why the hell did you stupefy him?" Draco asked as he lay him softly on the couch.
"This isn't Ron. Ron died, Draco." She seemed extremely distressed. "I was at his funeral. You were at his funeral. I don't know what this is but I'm not trusting whatever this is." She pointed at the motionless figure on the couch.
She strode to the fireplace and threw some floo powder into it. Harry's smiling face floated up, his hair untidy as ever. "Hey Hermione. What's up?"
"Harry, get to my place now. Bring the veritaserum." She disconnected without explanation, knowing that was the fastest way to get Harry to come running. A few minutes later Harry was stepping through the fireplace into her sitting room.
"Hermione, what's going on?" Harry asked panicked. "Why do you need veritaserum? Did Malfoy-" Harry faltered as his eyes fell on the immobile Ron.
"Yeah, not my fault this time." Draco grumbled from his seat near the Ron-imposter. Draco was completely rigid in his chair, staring at Ron with a sour look on his face.
"What is this, Hermione?" Harry looked alarmed. Ron's mouth was slack and his blue eyes shining as they stared at the ceiling.
"He just showed up, so I stupefied him! This person. I don't know who this is!"
"It looks like Ron." Harry pointed out, stupidly. Hermione let out a frustrated huff and stomped her foot in frustration.
"Honestly, Harry! After all we have seen over these years, do you really think this is Ron? He's dead. This creep has to be an imposter and we need to know what he is up to." Harry didn't seem as convinced but still listened to Hermione.
"Have you spoken to him?" Harry's eyes hadn't moved off Ron since first spied him. He looked like he was about to be sick.
"Not really, no. We should probably tie him up so we can find out more. I just, I don't know, panicked." Harry nodded, finally tearing his eyes away and quick work of tying Ron up and making sure he wasn't near a wand. Hermione and Harry exchanged pained glances before Hermione released the stunning charm.
"Okay, let's hear it." She set her jaw tight desperately trying to stuff down all the horrible feelings that were threatening to rise.
"Not exactly the welcome I was hoping for." Ron chuckled when he was able to speak.
"Who are you?" Hermione demanded pointing her wand at him.
"I know it's been a while and my hairstyle is a bit different but, I thought you'd at least recognize me." Ron grinned.
"I know who you look like, asshole. I asked who you were." Hermione's eyes narrowed at him.
"Hermione, it's really me." Ron responded softly. He adjusted himself against the ropes he was tied in and looked into her eyes. Hermione desperately tried to look away but couldn't. She had wanted to see those eyes again too badly.
"Ron Weasley died six years ago. I watched him go in the ground." Her voice faltered momentarily. "So, I'll ask you one more time. Who are you?"
"Ronald Bilius Weasley."
"Bilius?" Draco raised an eyebrow in distaste, startling Hermione and Harry who had momentarily forgotten his presence. "This is not the time for jokes, Draco." Hermione spat furiously. "Fine. Harry, the veritaserum." Hermione held out her hand.
"Hermione, you know that the ministry probably wouldn't approve of this."
"Oh, would the ministry approve of us letting an imposter masquerade as a dead auror? Should we let him go Harry?" Hermione sneered. Harry looked reluctant but handed it over.
"It's okay, I'll take it willingly if it means I can get out of these ropes. Though admittedly, I should probably be used to it by now." Ron agreed. Hermione's heart sank. Was this really Ron? She studied him for a moment. He looked so much older than he had the last time she had seen him. He was a tattered mess and had grey streaking his normally orange man. The hair she had loved so much was tangled and matted with dirt. His face looked hollow and there were bags under his eyes. Did polyjuice work on dead people? Did it age the dead person when taken? She made mental notes to read everything she could about the topic later.
"You heard him!" Hermione snapped at Harry. She was doing her best not to cry at the sight before her. How long had she wished that this could happen? How long had she yearned to see his face again? Hear his voice?
Harry uncorked the bottle and held it to the other man's mouth and he watched as his eyes glazed over a bit.
"What is your name?" Harry asked.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley."
"How are you here? You're supposed to be dead."
"I'm not dead. That's what they wanted you to think."
"Who?"
"I don't know their names." Hermione huffed.
"This is bullshit! He has clearly developed an immunity to veritaserum. I've read that some of Voldemort's followers did that to avoid Azkaban!" Harry quickly exchanged concerned looks with Draco.
"Hermione, let's talk for a second." Harry started to pull her into a different room.
"No!" Hermione tugged herself away from him, nearly hysterical at this point. She didn't want to believe this was Ron. Her Ron. It couldn't be. She searched her mind for all the information she could think of on how to lie while taking veritaserum but the panic was rising. She felt Draco's stand up from the chair next to her.
"Hermione." She heard his voice but could barely register what he was saying. "Maybe we should call the ministry?" Draco suggested putting his hand on her shoulder lightly.
"No!" Hermione's eyes shot up at him. "No! I want to take care of this myself." She raised her wand towards Ron, who's eyes went wide. Draco grabbed her wrist.
"Granger, don't." He shook his head. "Please put it down." His voice was calm, comforting. Hermione refused to let her wand out of her hand but lowered it, her fingers clutched around it and growing white. "The ministry can run all the necessary tests to prove if he is who he says he is." Hermione kept shaking her head.
"Malfoy's right." Harry said softy. "Hermione, we are too close to this. We need to let the ministry take care of this." Hermione finally conceded.
"Fine. Just get him out of my sight." Hermione yelled as she strode out of the room into her bedroom and slammed the door.