Disclaimer- All original characters are the property of J.K Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 1

Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off

The sky lit up with each lantern gliding in the air, allowing destiny to take them wherever it desired. Each lantern was customized according to their makers' preference. Hermione wanted to make herself a bird but due to it's overwhelming weight, she decided against it. Ginny fancied a heart-shaped lantern while James attempted at a round-shaped one painted gold. He prided his work and bragged it to his little brother. He named it 'The Golden Snitch' and believed it would fly the farthest.

Harry, Ron and George had been asked to participate, but they snorted at them and returned to grooming their brooms to play a match of Qudditch. Hermione had wished for Ron to take up some interest in what she was doing but tried to resist her feelings. After all, he hadn't met Harry for about six months and she wasn't keen on annoying him again on the matter of not giving him enough personal space. So, she went about and did her own thing, trying not to care.

Almost everyone had gone inside when the lanterns flew out of view. Ron and Hermione were still the ones staring at the dark bare night sky. He had his arm around her waist as she rested her head on top of his shoulder. Hermione used to remember how warm he felt when she pressed herself against him. Now his bones made her cheek hurt and she no longer felt warm beside him.

"Happy anniversary, Hermione." He whispered in her ear. His breath stank of rum from the evening drinking with Harry, George and Bill.

Hermione covered her nose and put up a smile as she repeated his words with a sweetness she knew was forged. Ron brought up his hand over her shoulder and beckoned her to go inside. As they made their way back, Hermione looked back at the soulless sky and decided she mirrored the unmoving darkness. She used to have adventures of infinite wonders, a life with excitement and love. She used to shine as bright as the stars itself. But now, she leads a life full of repetition and no adventures. She's made herself indifferent to life, almost as dark as the sky hovering above her.

They entered the warmth of The Burrow and dropped their coats by the coat hanger. Harry was busy talking with Bill by the corner of the room. George was teaching James how to use a love potion which Ginny was unaware of. George always tested Ginny's temper and he probably was only interested at teaching James for that specific intention. Ginny was busy decorating Ron and Hermione's third marriage anniversary cake. Hermione had requested to help them but Mrs. Weasley shoved her away so she busied herself with lantern making.

Ron made his way to the kitchen to grab one of the sherbet lemons Hermione had bought for everyone. He then went to sit by Bill and joined in on their conversation. Hermione hardly gave a care as to what they were talking about and sat by herself on the dining table, sipping from a mug of hot chocolate that Mrs. Weasley had made for her and James. After a while Ginny finished up her side of the cooking and baking, and sat beside Hermione, taking small mouthfuls of butterbeer.

"You know, I was wondering when you guys would think about taking up a child. I don't mean to pressurize you both. It's your decision but have you ever thought about it?" Ginny looked over at Hermione as Hermione processed her question. Has she thought about children? Well of course, she has. But she wasn't sure whether she could go to such a huge commitment with Ron. Hermione knew her marriage was slowly tearing at the edges and inevitably the stage of multitudinous rows will come knocking at their doorstep. She wasn't eager at bringing a child in such a situation.

"We have thought about it, yes." Hermione replied, not looking up at Ginny. She could easily guess when Hermione was lying, and it'd be better for her not to burden her with questions asking whether she was alright when she herself didn't know the answer.

"Are you not interested in conceiving or are you having problems with it?" Ginny continued. Hermione bit her lower lip and pretended to be focused on finishing up her drink. Ginny was still waiting for her answer.

"We are definitely interested but we don't know when's the proper time." Truthfully Ron never discussed the topic of kids. Hermione had been persistent in making Ron acknowledge her cosmic desire of parenting during their first year of marriage. Ron, however, worked up new ways to avoid the matter and in time, Hermione found herself equally apathetic.

Ginny grunted, "Don't know when's the proper time, eh? Well it's your matter, not mine. But I'd bloody like to be an aunt again. Victorie and Molly are now a tad grown and don't fit in my arms anymore. I'd like another baby to hold, ya know."

Hermione laughed, "Get pregnant yourself then."

"That's hard work. Tell you what, babies are only adorable when you don't have to take care of them all the time. I just want the result without the hard work." Ginny smirked.

Just then Harry appeared behind them. "What are you both talking 'bout?" He said as he bent over to kiss Ginny's hairline and grab a sherbet lemon while he was at it. Ginny brushed the topic aside and replied with a "Nothing". Harry wasn't concerned for a proper answer anyways and drew a chair for himself to sit on. Mrs. Weasley started filling up the table with her cooking. Her mushroom soup was steaming while her roasted turkey filled up the air with its rich smell. On one side she placed a bowl of beef casserole and a plate of hash browns. The look of it all made Hermione salivate as she convinced herself that aside from the Hogwarts elves, no one cooked as incredibly as did.

Dinner was rowdy yet fun. Hermione was used to quiet dinner tables at home, often with a 'how was your day' and a 'fine' and that was about it. She missed the noisiness and the offensive jokes of Bill and George. Fleur and Victorie was too tired to join in and resorted to a nap. They missed out all the fun, Hermione mused later.

After the last plate was licked clean by James, Mrs. Weasley and Ginny brought out the cake. Mrs. Weasley had decorated it with the colours of Gryffindor and painted a Quaffle and a book on the top. Hermione thanked Mrs. Weasley and cut through the moist layer of the first tier with a butter knife with Ron's hand on top of hers. Ron bent himself forward to give Hermione a kiss and she only allowed a peck.

Hermione dived into the cake as soon as she received it. The flavor of coffee beans with chocolate frosting was an absolute heaven to her taste buds. It wasn't until her third plate that she felt her stomach almost bursting from the amount of food she had devoured. At last she yearned for the warmth of a bed and a good night's sleep.

She announced her wish and said her goodbyes before making her way up to Ron's old bedroom. Mrs. Weasley had made sure it was clean enough for Hermione which Hermione appreciated beyond words. She undressed and changed into her night gown before jumping into the bed. She closed her eyes and signalled for her body to sleep. She was halfway asleep when the door to the room opened and Ron slid inside. Hermione was too tired to acknowledge him. A few minutes later, Hermione felt his bare chest pressing against her back as Ron started kissing her jaw. Hermione slowly opened her eyes and straightened up.

"What are you doing?" She asked but Ron didn't shift from his kissing. He gradually trailed along her jaw and nibbled on her ears before whispering, "Kissing you."

Hermione moved and faced him. Ron took that as a chance to move to her lips and pushed himself on her. Hermione shook him away, "Ron, I'm tired."

"Darling, it's our third anniversary." Ron reasoned. Hermione shrugged. She used to love the taste of him but she's changed now. Her youthful desires seemed strange now, almost as if she was a completely different person. She no longer had the lusts of her teenage self.

Ron started tracing his fingers along her neck and down to her chest. He pushed her back and sat on top of her, pecking his lips where his fingers had been. Hermione tried to adjust her mind to what she wanted and realized it was not him. But she could never go through the whole farce following a divorce. She knew that this time what she wanted could not be granted with ease.

So she fell back and allowed Ron to push himself inside her, occasionally sending out slight moans. But she was lost in her own thoughts and when Ron finished and laid beside her, Hermione felt tears rolling down her cheek and dampening her pillow. She was playing a game of pretend with love and she had no idea how to quit.

New chapters will be posted every Sunday and Wednesday. Occasional delays may be the result of future inconveniences.

Also it would be quite nice for someone to write a review as to how I'm going so far. *Wink, Wink ;)*