Just a reminder: I own nothing but the plot! The characters are all J.K Rowlings!
Hermione felt the cold breeze as she stared at The Three Broomsticks, stationary in front of her. She knew she wanted to go in, but at the same time, there were people she didn't want to see.
As she spotted that person, laughing and dancing, she felt an ache grow in her stomach. She had to go, Hermione knew that, but that didn't mean Hermione wanted to. Obligation would not create happiness.
Hermione could feel the anger radiating through her body as she stared upon her former boyfriend. He had come to the ministry event with Lavender Brown — his fiance, and girlfriend for four years before that. Hermione hated the smug look on his face, their break up had destroyed her, yet left him standing.
If only the could understand why she broke up with him.
She stared at them as someone touched her shoulder, and it was quite clear why. It was the Battle of Hogwarts sixth anniversary, and they had all come together to celebrate.
After all she had done, Hermione was still climbing her way to the top of the Ministry for Magic. Currently, she was furiously overworking herself in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, trying to eradicate pro-pureblood laws. It was work she was felt passionate on, and had become closer to Kingsley Shacklebolt.
The same person tapped her again.
"What?" She sighed back in return. Turning around, however, she found the red hair of none other than Ginny Weasley.
"Hello to you too," Ginny replied, weaseling a hug after Hermione. After all, the two had hardly spoken after she had broken up with Ron, things better left unsaid.
None of them, not even Harry, spoke to her as often, because they had never heard or cared to hear her side of the argument. After all, she was just the brains of the 'Golden trio' as it was called, and the one people always found obnoxious.
"Sorry," Hermione responded, "it's just that I haven't seen you in ages! I haven't heard much, though I am intrigued about that Quidditch career of yours. How have you and Harry been?"
Hermione wished she could leash her own tongue, recognizing her overbearing attitude. She wanted to shake it off, apologize, but Ginny just smiled.
"It's been such a long time, even if we weren't that close."
"Yeah," Hermione said, the looming shadow of her and Ron's break up coming to their mouths. Ginny was, after all, very close to Ron. Nothing she could say or do would ever get her cracked back into that circle, never get her to be a part of the 'Golden Trio' ever again. It was just her, and no one else.
"I should be going," Ginny said, and with a nod of her head, walked inside.
Hermione continued standing for a moment, as still as a statue, hoping that for any reason she wouldn't have to go inside. Eventually, she knew she would have to, but that wouldn't mean she would start accepting it now.
After standing outside for a good twenty minutes, Hermione pushed no further and walked into the bustling bar. She was met with a cacophony of roaring laughter and talking, all overlapped into one screaming mess. Uncertain, she scanned the room for any possible escape.
Her eyes landed on a small table, with no people packed over there. Perfect, this is my chance, Hermione thought. Slowly, she made her way to the table, but not before Luna and several others had raced over to meet her.
"Hermione!" It was Luna's breathy voice, giving her a hug before sitting down across from her, alongside Cho, Padma, Parvati, and Hannah Abbott. Each of them had a joyful expression, they were celebrating after all, but also the twinkle of a mourner. Each one had known someone they lost, and they felt that on this day the way Hermione did.
"Hey, guys, long time no see!" Hermione attempted enthusiasm as she regarded them, watching as they all eyed her curiously.
"I know right! It's just been such a long time, and with all of us so busy…" Padma began.
"It's been hard to just talk and relax, so c'mon! Let's hear the scoop! Hermione Jean Granger, are you seeing anyone?"
Hermione sighed. She knew this was going to happen. This was what all of them cared about, maybe except for Luna, more than anything. Her, the famous Hermione Granger, always had to have a boyfriend. Otherwise, everyone would always be on her toes.
Just once, Hermione knew she would like a conversation where this didn't happen, a conversation with a generic response, like 'yeah, will you always were a working one' and 'you deserve so much better than Ron'. Hermione did not want their pity, and yet she found it when she searched people's eyes, people's voices.
"Yes." That split decision would be the death of her, Hermione knew, but she didn't care. Maybe, just for one night, she could have a night where she didn't have to worry about people thinking that she didn't need a boyfriend. She wanted one, but she didn't want their pity when she was single. Maybe not being single would be easier.
"So spill, then!" Hannah said loudly. "Who is this man that none of us have heard anything about?"
Who was this person? Hermione was not seeing anyone, she had only had a few dates after Ron. Could she even keep up this secret for just the entire night? "He's just a person, but we've been steady for a few months, and I don't know."
"Who is he? And is it going anywhere?" This was Cho's question, and Hermione watched her as she sipped her butterbeer.
"It's too soon to tell, but please don't say anything! I don't want this getting out anywhere, not yet at least. I don't think either of us are really ready for that yet. Anywho, how are you?" Hermione tried to turn the conversation away from her, getting Parvati to fill up the air with her voice. Eventually, Hermione watched the easy back and forth between the group, and slowly found her rhythm.
You can do this, she thought. It's easier than you thought it was going to be. As Hermione slowly gained momentum, she began talking, right as Ginny, Ron, Harry, and a bunch of other old Hogwarts students came over.
Her heart stopped flat. After all she had done to avoid them, they were still here. And Hermione had no idea what to say, or how to react.
"Oh! Umm…" It was all Harry could say, and Hermione could feel his green eyes staring daggers at her as she awkwardly sat in her seat. No one spoke around her, and Hermione could feel as the entire room silenced, every single pair of eyes watching the unwanted reunion. Hermione wanted to roll her eyes as Lavender came over, going under Ron's arm, her eyes scanning the group as if trying to figure out what was going on.
"Hermione, I didn't even realize you were invited." Lavender's voice hit Hermione, reminding her why she shouldn't be here, the way Lavender was talking to her as if Hermione didn't belong.
Hermione couldn't measure her anger, watching as Lavender sat smug under Ron's arm, as if she won something. Hermione just sat, waiting for some of the many people around her to speak. They were all still watching, waiting for the drama of course, and none of them cared about anything more than the scoop on the estranged trio.
"Why are you here?" It was Ron's voice that broke the silence, escape bathed in the anger that Hermione only knew from their break up.
"The same reason you are, Ronald." She stood up, her calculating eyes watching him, daring him to reply. Hermione would not feel threatened by this person in front of her, who she despised and hated. This person who she would not let define her life. She would not let Ron Weasley define where she could and could not go, because she was the only boss of herself. No one else.
"No, I think you are mistaken. Leave. You're disrupting this celebration." His voice was cold and icy as he watched her, walking up to her to highlight the physical advantage he had on her. Didn't he understand that he was not exactly the best wizard or witch out there?
"Well, if I'm disrupting this situation, then so are you." Hermione herself was even surprised by the audacity in her voice, the look she was giving Ron, daring him to argue. To fight.
"Leave." The steel word would not break her down.
"I have a right to be here, the same you or anyone else does. Just because you are some sexist, thoughtless pig, does not mean I cannot come to a party recognizing people who sacrificed for all of us." Hermione was getting riled up now, and when she got riled up, Hermione would not stop.
The room was still watching them, and Hermione could hear the murmurs spreading like wildfire around them. Were they waiting to see her have a nervous breakdown? A fight maybe? For Ron to break down? Somebody jump in?
"Hey! You can't talk to him that way! He is my fiance!" Hermione was brimming with shock when she realized that Lavender had spoken for Ron. Hermione almost wanted to smirk, no matter how this situation ended, she was not the one who it was going to end poorly for. Ron would want to defend himself, especially to prove he could handle it. It was, after all, the major reason for their break up.
"I'm not leaving like this, you hear me? If the two of you want to pretend like you are some power couple, Lavender standing up for you, that's fine. If Lavender doesn't want a life, that's fine. But you, Ronald, will never tell me what to do."
Hermione didn't carry if it sounded like a threat, didn't care how she was being perceived, she never had. Ron and Harry standing their revived that. However, Hermione knew it was her that would get penalized in the paper the next day.
Hermione watched as Ron struggled, knowing that she would not back down. Hermione Granger was single and thriving.
A/N:
Oof! Hermione and Ron broke up! And Harry's there too when they meet? This will be a continuing series if that's not clear, and in this next chapter I'm going to start placing the seed's for Hermione's love life, as well as their break up. Please read and review, I'd love any thoughts, opinions, maybe what you want the ship to be.
Sorry for any mistakes in grammar or spelling, if there were any, I don't have any beta readers or anything.