Author's Note – It's too long a story to tell right now. Just know, dear and lovely readers, that I had no choice being away from you so long. I will update as regularly and quickly as I possibly can, and I'll get back to all of you soon. For those who emailed me personally, I'm seriously behind on reading my email. Tomorrow, darlings. I will answer you all tomorrow.

But for now, so you know I'm still alive and kicking, here's a short offering. I've missed these guys (and you guys) a lot the last few weeks, and I'm really terribly sorry for leaving you like that. J

***

The sudden thump on the door jerked Neville and Harry out of sleep at the same time, sending Harry grasping for his wand.

Neville sat bolt upright and reached for the lamp, before realizing it was already turned on.

The door flew open and a frantic face he barely recognized as one of the Weasley twins looked in on them. "Dammit!" the twin exclaimed before vanishing into the hall.

"Dumbledore! Mum! Dad! Help!" The twin moved away from the door, but his shouts were clear.

"Something's happened," Harry stated needlessly, and both of them jumped up and raced for the door.

Neville's heart was already pounding from being woken up so abruptly. He skidded into the hall on Harry's trail and saw other doors opening.

Professor Dumbledore had been given, and reluctantly accepted, the master bedroom at the very end of the hall. His door opened, and he looked for all the world like he had been awake and dressed and waiting for just this moment. "Mr. Weasley. What is it?"

The twin wheeled and raced to him. "Professor! You have to come with me!"

"George?" The Weasley parents' door opened, and two rumpled, frightened faces peered out.

"Mum! Dad! It's Ron!"

They were out the door and by their son in a flash. "What about him? What's happened?"

George's eyes jerked from them to Dumbledore. "He's at the Burrow! He just showed up! He's really odd, and all tied up, and you've got to help him!"

Neville sank against the wall, his breath suddenly shallow and fast. "Ron?" he said weakly, but no one heard him.

"Let's go," Dumbledore said instantly, striding past them and towards Neville and the stairs and the outside.

"Ron? What about Ron?" The girls' room was now open, and Ginny looked sick and pale. "Neville?"

But Neville couldn't answer. He just followed them on stumbling feet, praying hard.

Harry was charging past the Weasley's to Dumbledore, making some demand Neville didn't hear through the ringing in his ears.

"We'll apparate over." Dumbledore's answer was clear. "Let us check on the boy. We'll bring him back here straight away. The Burrow isn't safe enough."

Harry spoke again lowly.

Dumbledore just strode on. "Harry. You will stay here. We'll bring him, I promise."

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley strode past Harry, and the three followed George. Neville piled into the doorway with Harry and stood until the four had apparated away.

And then there was the most horrible sort of wait Neville had ever imagined.

***

Fred heard the commotion downstairs and said a silent thank you. He was holding on to Ron tightly, and his brother was shaking like a leaf and scared out of his mind, so Fred didn't shout to them. He knew George would lead them up.

Sure enough, Dumbledore's bearded face appeared around the corner into the hall, followed by his mum and dad.

Ron jerked under his arms, somehow even more tense.

"Wait!" Fred tightened his grasp, holding his brother against his chest carefully. "He doesn't recognize anything." He could feel his own voice start to crack, and he cleared his throat. "He's a bit upset. And the ropes…I can't get the ropes off."

His dad's hand came up, wand at the ready.

"No!" Fred shouted the warning too late.

Ron bucked under him, fighting and straining and jerking to get away.

Fred did the only thing he could think of – he fastened one arm tight across Ron's chest, and moved the other up to seal his eyes shut, to keep him from seeing the wand.

Ron fought hard, but Fred held him tight. "I'm sorry," he whispered to his brother, scared at Ron's behavior. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Dumbledore acted fast, speaking a few words as he reached over and lowered their dad's wand out of sight. He wasn't a stupid man – he could see what had Ron panicking.

The ropes slid off of Ron and fell limply to the floor and Fred's lap.

Ron's arms fell loosely away from him, and his face creased in pain.

Dumbledore barked out another spell instantly.

Ron froze and then relaxed, every muscle suddenly going slack. When Fred lowered his hands from Ron's eyes they were shut.

The crowd at the end of the hall charged forward. Their mum reached Ron first, tears going down her face. "Oh, my boy. My poor boy. Professor…"

"He's under a sleeping spell. We should move him to Black's house before he has a chance to wake up."

"How did he get here? I don't understand." Dad sounded strange, his voice thin and worried.

With mum following, he and Dumbledore lifted Ron gently off of Fred, and carried him awkwardly down the hall. Ron was six feet of gangly dead weight.

George stayed behind to offer Fred a hand. "We're going."

"Of course we are." Fred took his hand and stood, and they followed the adults. "George, that was really scary." His voice was low and as solemn as it ever got.

George didn't smile or anything, though. He just nodded. "Someone hurt Ron," he answered darkly.

Fred exchanged grim looks with him, and they started down the steps without another word.

***

Ron heard the low murmur of voices before he woke enough to open his eyes.

He kept his eyes shut out of reflexes the last days had given him, an instinct that said if someone was there with him he didn't want them to know he was up.

But the murmurs grew clearer as sleep drifted out of his brain, and the voices grew familiar.

"—to know how he got to the Burrow. It seems absurd that they would just let him go. But for him to escape wherever they had him, and arrive unharmed at his home…"

"I'm afraid we'll have to wait and see. How much longer should he be asleep?"

That last voice sounded like Remus Lupin, strangely.

The next voice was unmistakable, though. Dumbledore. "Not very long, I should think. He's already slept far longer than the spell guaranteed. He must have been tired. Poor child."

Ron remembered flashes. Lucius Malfoy, and then suddenly being at the Black House.

Seeing Neville. Neville and Harry.

And then his brothers. The Burrow.

It hadn't been a dream. Unless he was dreaming still, which probably meant he wasn't dreaming at all, but completely insane.

At least it seemed to be the good sort of insanity.

He opened his eyes to see the side of Dumbledore's face as he spoke. "When he wakes up, I won't have you badgering him for details."

Ron's eyes flickered over and saw both Lupin and a rather cross-looking Mad-Eye Moody. He swallowed and licked his lips, and hoped that twenty-four hours had passed since he had drank the Quietus. "Professor?"

Dumbledore turned to him instantly, flashing a smile. "Ron, my boy! How are you feeling?"

Ron looked down at himself reflexively. He was tucked in bed – it looked like his very bed in his room – and the sheets were pulled up tight. But he could tell from the looseness around his arms that the magical ropes that had held him bound for days were gone. He felt a great deal of relief, and tried to sit up.

Lupin came forward to assist him, easing him up and then positioning his pillow so he could sit back. "Ron?"

Ron realized they were still waiting for an answer. He considered. "I feel alright," he said finally. His voice was rough. Hoarse. He cleared his throat, but the scratchiness didn't go away. "Really weak, though."

"Well then. There are a great many people out there waiting to see you. I expect it's alright to let them in, don't you?"

Ron tensed. Conflicting feelings instantly made his head spin. Neville. Neville was probably out there, waiting. And Harry.

But his mind was full of the image of them sleeping together, curled up and happy. And he didn't know what that meant. Didn't know at all. But he did know that he wanted to see Neville more than anything. No matter what had happened while he was gone, it was thinking of Neville that got him through the last days.

Days. He looked up at Dumbledore. "How long have I been gone?" he asked quietly.

"Ten days," Dumbledore answered solemnly. "But we can talk of that later. There are a lot of curious people wondering how you got back safely. It can wait, though." His eyes went to Moody, who looked as if he were about to object.

Moody shut his mouth silently, grimacing.

Dumbledore sat on the bed and peered at Ron seriously. "Are you alright to see your family, my boy? They've been very worried."

Ron nodded slowly.

Dumbledore looked to Lupin, who instantly went to the door and cracked it open. "Let's not bombard him with everyone at once," Ron heard him saying.

Dumbledore stood as voices argued instantly from the other side of the door. He smiled down at Ron. "We'll get out of your way. I would like to speak to you, though, as soon as you feel ready."

Ron nodded, looking away from him down at the sheets pooled in his lap.

Dumbledore placed a friendly hand on Moody's shoulder and led him towards the door. They moved out past Lupin, who followed them.

A moment later they were replaced by Ron's mum and dad.

His mum smiled at him with tears in her eyes, and sat down right where Dumbledore had been sitting. "Ron. Dear." Her voice was wavering, and she held her arms open.

Ron let her hug him, returning the embrace loosely. "Don't cry, mum."

She sniffed against his shoulder and laughed. "That's easy for you to say. Ron, we were so worried. I thought…oh, it doesn't matter. Are you alright? Honestly?" She pulled back and studied him. "Dumbledore said there was no need to send for a Healer, but…"

Ron bit back a laugh at that. No, no need at all. Fortunately for him the kind of curses he'd been subjected to didn't leave marks.

He swallowed that response, though. His mum didn't need to know. "I'm alright. I'm really tired, but I feel like I've been sleeping forever."

It wasn't true. He felt as if he'd shut his eyes for barely five minutes. But he heard Dumbledore say he'd been sleeping a long time. He didn't want her to worry.

His dad sat down on the other side of the bed. He clapped a hand on Ron's shoulder, his eyes bright. "You've got no idea how glad we are to see you."

Ron smiled weakly. "I bet I do."

His mum hugged him again suddenly. "My baby. Can I…are you hungry? You've slept through the last three meals, poor thing."

He shuddered at the idea of food.

His mum looked instantly concerned as she felt him shiver.

He spoke quickly to distract her. "Maybe some tea? Might wake me up a bit."

She stood quickly. "Of course. Poor boy. Tea with honey? Just like I always make when you're under the weather."

His dad stood as well. "Remus says we aren't to crowd you, so we've got to give everyone else a chance to come in and say hullo. We'll be back, son. We'll…" He sniffled, still smiling. "We'll bring you tea." He reached out and smoothed Ron's hair down gently.

Ron nodded. "Alright, dad."

They went to the door, and each looked back at him one last long moment before they left.

The moment they were out the door a smaller figure burst in and ran right for the bed. "Oh, God, Ron!"

Ron was swept into a tight embrace. His eyes slammed shut at the overwhelming relief of it.

Neville was shaking against him, overcome. "Ron. Ron. We were so…I was…Ron!"
Ron held him tightly, his eyes welling with tears. He reached up and ran fingers through familiar dark blond hair.

Neville squeezed him close, then after a few moments pulled back and flashed a smile, wiping tears from his cheeks.

Ron's heart seemed to stutter in his chest. His breath caught. "Neville…"

Neville searched him all over, smiling inanely. "You…I was so scared you were…"

"I'm alright," Ron said quietly.

His mind flashed an image of Neville and Harry.

He cast it away with some force. He didn't care. Whatever had happened, Neville wasn't any different. He still cared.

Even if Neville had found, while Ron was gone, someone more deserving to be by his side, he wouldn't stop caring about Ron.

Which at that moment was all Ron cared about. "I'm sorry."

Neville froze, his eyes driving into Ron's suddenly. "What?"

"For whatever you thought. You were upset, and it was…"

"Ron." Neville shook his head, looking appalled. "No. No, please. Don't. My fault. Everything was…"

"No!" Ron sniffed and reached out, and wondered if he still had any claim to touch Neville.

Neville leaned in, his eyes shutting as Ron's hand found his cheek. He shivered again and his head bowed. "Oh, Ron. I was so scared."

Ron pulled him in close again and bit back an answer. He wasn't sure what to say. He had been scared himself.

He was still scared. Of something completely different, but he was still scared.

He held Neville to him and breathed in the familiar scent of him, and told himself to be content with what he had.

***

"You understand there's going to be a lot of questions."

Ron nodded.

Dumbledore looked sympathetic. "It can't be helped. It can be delayed, fortunately, and since there aren't any lives being endangered at the moment, I'm sure I can keep Moody off of you for a while yet. But there are a few details I'd like now, to settle my own curiosity."

Neville's hand was on his, and Harry sat close on his other side, and their silent support helped Ron to nod his agreement. "What do you want to know?"

"It was Bellatrix LeStrange that kidnapped you?"

Ron nodded. "She…I'm sure you already know. She thought…"

"She thought you were me," Neville said quietly beside him.

Ron squeezed his hand. "She's completely mad, Professor."

"She didn't take you to Voldemort. We didn't find traces of him on you."

Ron flinched at the name, even deeper than he usually did. "No. She didn't want me for him. She wanted Neville just for herself. You-Know-Who didn't even know."

"But there were traces of another wand."

Ron nodded, his eyes dropping. His hands were shaking, but the one was held tightly in Neville's grip, and as he watched, Harry's smaller hand reached out and took his other. "Malfoy."

"Lucius Malfoy?" His dad now, sounding barely controlled.

He nodded. "Just the last day. After I…" He shrugged. Details. Dumbledore said they could wait.

There was a pause, and then Dumbledore spoke again. "Now, the one thing we're all wondering. How did you escape?"

Ron shrugged. "I think…I think I apparated."

"What?" Moody's sharp voice.

Ron swallowed and looked up at the sea of staring faces. "I was… Malfoy was…and I shut my eyes and thought about my room, and saw it in my head, and wanted to be there. And then I opened my eyes and I was there."

"That's all there was to it?" Moody sounded dubious.

Ron nodded. No one had to know he had stopped here first. Never. "I don't know how I did it."

Dumbledore spoke thoughtfully. "It's not unusual for magic to manifest itself in times of need, even if the witch or wizard doesn't consciously know how to create that sort of magic."

"Like when I set the python on Dudley before I even heard of Hogwarts," Harry spoke at Ron's side.

Dumbledore nodded. "Apparating is usually not one of those spells. It's difficult to learn, and nearly impossible to do without being educated about it. But not impossible entirely. Given the stress you were under I'd say it's very possible you apparated."

"There's also the fact that nothing else makes any sense. LeStrange and especially Malfoy wouldn't simply let him go, and it would have been nearly impossible for him to have made it by himself, tied as he was." Lupin spoke thoughtfully, his eyes on Ron.

"I wouldn't recommend you trying it again, of course." Dumbledore smiled.

Ron sat back. "Is that…is there anything else you have to know right now?"

Dumbledore glanced at Lupin and Moody. "Nothing that can't wait until you've rested longer. We know who was responsible, and I'm sure you've got no better idea than we do where those people are right now. You just get some rest, Ron, and we'll be by in the morning to speak to you again."

Ron nodded silently.

Dumbledore left the foot of his bed, followed by Moody. Lupin stayed long enough to squeeze Harry's shoulder, then followed them out.

The foot of the bed was immediately filled with Hermione and Ginny. They sat and smiled at him with watery eyes and silence filled the room awkwardly.

"Are you getting tired at all?" Ron's mum asked quietly from her seat beside the bed.

Ron felt grateful for the excuse. "Actually, yeah."

His mum and dad stood up instantly. "Alright, kids. Let's let Ron get some rest. Everybody out."

Neville smiled faintly. "This is my room."

Ron's mum smiled at him affectionately. "Well, Neville, dear, if you promise not to exhaust the poor boy…Ron? You don't mind if Neville stays, do you?"

Ron shook his head silently, sending Neville a smile, feeling inexplicably shy.

Neville smiled back and looked down at the covers of the bed.

Hermione and Ginny stood up slowly. Ginny sniffled and grinned at Ron and sort of hit him on his sheet-covered foot. "You'll be alright tomorrow, and then we can talk."

Hermione wiped at runny eyes. "Ron. You…you just get some rest." She held out a hand.

He took it and squeezed it lightly. "I will."

Harry stood more slowly as the others filed out. "Ron."

Ron hesitated before looking at him. "Harry…I…"

Harry just shook his head. He lay a hand on Ron's shoulder and met his eyes. "We're going to talk, you and me. Okay? Soon?"

Ron bit his lip pensively. What was…?

Harry squeezed his shoulder. "Just give me a chance to apologize."

Apologize? Ron frowned at him, but nodded. "I don't…"

"We'll talk about it later." Harry looked past Ron at Neville, and flashed a strange, almost secret smile.

Ron's heart lurched, but he sat back and worked to keep his face blank.

Finally everyone was gone. Neville shifted until he was perched in front of Ron, facing him. "Do you…need anything?"

Ron shook his head, sitting back with a frown. "Ten days. Dumbledore said…"

Neville nodded. He reached out and let his hand rest on Ron's stomach. "Seemed like longer to me. Ron, it was awful."

Ron looked down at Neville's hand and couldn't answer.

Neville laughed weakly. "I should shut up, I know. It had to be horrid for you, much worse than for me. I just missed you."

"I missed you, too," Ron said quietly. His hand slid up and over Neville's, resting there comfortably. "It wasn't so bad for me, though. I'm okay. Really."

Neville met his eyes.

Ron smiled, though he didn't really feel like it.

Neville returned the smile after a minute. "Well. You've missed out on a few things. I could tell you all about what's happened here, if you like. And if you're tired, you can just go to sleep while I'm talking. I won't be upset or anything."

Ron laughed quietly. He had missed that look in Neville's eyes. He had spent the last ten days being glared at as if he was trash, or laughed at like he was a toy.

He missed this, the quiet concern and care. He missed being looked at like he was special.

Whatever went on with Harry and Neville, whatever would happen once he was feeling better and they weren't all tiptoeing around him, at least he had this. For as long or as short as it lasted, he had it now.

Though if it left him for good…he wasn't sure how he'd react.

He lay back with a sigh and closed heavy eyes, and Neville's quiet voice sounded in his ear, speaking words he couldn't focus on.

He opened his eyes after a minute and interrupted quietly. "Neville?"

"What do you need? Anything at all, I'll do for you." Neville leaned in to him earnestly.

Ron hesitated. "Could you…can I have a kiss?"

Neville moved back a few inches, studying him hesitantly.

Ron's heart gave a painful thump. He didn't miss the reluctance. "I know…I mean. Just one. Please?"

Neville's face softened instantly and he leaned in, smiling. "Anything you want," he said softly before coming in for a soft kiss.

Ron closed his eyes and tried to memorize the feel of Neville's lips on his, just in case. Neville's hand appeared on his hair, sifting down. A thumb brushed lightly over Ron's cheek.

Ron's breathing was a bit more labored when Neville pulled back, and he kept his eyes shut so Neville wouldn't see the tears forming. "Thank you," he said after a moment.

He felt movement as Neville stood suddenly. "I…I should go. I should let you get some rest."

Ron's eyes opened at that uncontrollably, and sure enough Neville's back was turned and he was walking out. Quickly.

He could actually feel the exact moment when his heart cracked in half, and he lay there silently for a long time, shuddering and fighting back tears.

He was alone again.