Harry stopped crying, but muttered, "It's probably in the report...."
                              
"No, it's not. As soon as you told me... who it was... I scrubbed his file. You're not in it, in any way. He was tagged for Auror investigation because the prep's wand was confiscated by the police and flagged for Auror review. If anyone tries to link you two... they'd have nothing but wild theories and no evidence. Only me, you, Hermione and Malfoy know of the connection, now."
                              
Harry blinked. Was he telling him... that he changed his file? "Did you...?"
                              
Ron nodded. "I did what I had to, Harry."
                              
Harry's eyes widened. "But Hermione...."
                              
"You think she doesn't know? I don't keep secrets from her, and I wouldn't let her be put on the spot if something happened. She knows and is fine with what I did."
                              
"You did it without... telling her first?"
                              
"I'd had done it regardless, Harry. Now, listen to me, mate. This is about right and wrong. That fucker was doomed to die in Azkaban for what he did. He deserves it for everything he did. You have every right to privacy for what he did to you, and you weren't going to get it. We both know that."
                              
"I Obliviated him," he whispered.
                              
"And he did so much more to you, Harry. I can live with that... Hermione can live with that... and so should you. Hell, Harry, how you didn't kill him.... I don't know if I could have let him live."
                              
"You're not a killer, Ron."
                              
"Maybe... maybe not. If he'd done it just to me... maybe... I'd be on the fence. But if he hurt Hermione like that... or my kids... Merlin-help-me... I don't know what I'd do. When I went to Azkaban, I saw him. It took a lot not to kill him for what he did to you, Harry."
                              
Harry looked up into his eyes.
                              
"I didn't want my kids to grow up without a father."
                              
"I'm glad you didn't," Harry said, lowering his head. "I put him in there, Ron. Draco said that they... hurt him too... if...."
                              
"Harry... I don't want to make ya upset... but he deserves that spot in hell."
                              
"But they targeted him...."
                              
"Maybe at first. Let me dispel any notions you might have. He's nothing like Malfoy. That fucker... watched... enjoyed them hurting the others. Voyeurism, the sick fuck. He even beat other prisoners. Ironically, he has some kind of erectile dysfunction, now. Don't know if that was why he needed...."
                              
Harry snorted and Ron raised an eyebrow. Harry sighed, "I kinda cursed him... when I... I didn't mean to...."
                              
Ron laughed and took one of Harry's hands. "Harry, mate. Don't even fret about it. He deserves it, cause I know he'd spend the rest of his life wanking to the memory of what he did to those muggles. He doesn't deserve that right. His victims don't deserve it, either. Harry... I know you carry a lot of weight and guilt over what happened... but let it go, mate. He is where he belongs. You're not an Auror and if you feel you need to pay for those desperate actions you took... you just spent five years burning for it. Let it go."
                              
Harry took a deep breath and nodded. "Everyone knows... though."
                              
"I'm so sorry, mate. I know it sucks... but maybe it's better this way? You've been hiding it so long... it's out in the open. It's not hanging over your head, anymore."
                              
"I don't think it'll be better. Everyone will stare... will know... will ask."
                              
"They will stop staring. They will get used to it and if they ask, report their asses to your boss."