Rumors flew after that, speculation on whether or not Ronald Weasley abused his wife was a constant source of gossip for weeks. She bore it as best as any witch could, she refused comment, kept her head up, and Potter followed at her side like a sentinel. But the rumors wouldn’t die and eventually, after a good solid month of it, reports started to come in from others. He’d been seen man handling one of his lovers in Hogsmeade, there was a time in Trent when he cursed a fan who asked him about his wife, and then there was the Ministry fundraiser which he attended at the insistence of his wife and best friend, and where he got so drunk he threw up on the Minister’s robes.