Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and his world. That privilege belongs to J.K. Rowling.

A limp figure sobbed into the cold, unfeeling floorboards. Her whimpers and cries became more and more desperate as time passed. The scene around the sad figure was a perfect irony to her situation. Bright sunlight seeped into the windows and a slight breeze played across the entire flat. The warm late spring air made for a cheery atmosphere. If someone had walked into the situation in this particular room, they would have laughed. The singular occupant wept on.

The phone in the corner rang.

It rang a second time.

The person straightened up. Even though this woman was in the middle of a tear-session, you could tell she was not to be reckoned with. Her hair was pulled into a bun, to be true some of the hair had been pulled out of place while she had cried on the floor, but under normal circumstances, it could be understood that it was kept in its place. Her brown eyes spoke of someone who often spent her time reading by wand light late into the night. She took a deep breath to calm herself as she wiped tears from her reddened face.

The phone rang a third time.

With as much strength and courage she could muster, she picked up the infernal contraption. "Hello, Hermione Granger speaking."

"Oh great Merlin, guess what happened Hermione!" The voice on the other end was obviously belonged to a woman. A fierce redheaded woman named Ginny to be precise.

"What is it, Ginny?"

"I wanted to tell you in person, but I don't think I could wait that long. Harry and I are getting married!"

"Why, that's great Gin!" Hermione's voice was full of false joy. She couldn't possibly be cheerful right now, not when she herself felt so miserable.

Ginny ignored the fakeness in her voice and kept speaking. "I know! I'm so excited that I can hardly breathe. We decided that were having the ceremony in a month. I know its quick, but he has to go away for work for a while after that, and it really is the only opportunity. I know that you are busy, but would you be my maid of honor?"

"Well, er, actually, yes. Yes, I'd love to be your maid of honor. When do you want me where?" She regretted it instantly. She knew that the groom was Harry, and who would Harry pick as best man? That redhead that made her life hell. Of course, he would pick Ron. Nevertheless, Hermione couldn't take her answer back now, she'd just have to live with it.

"The wedding is at the Burrow, so could you be here in, say, a week?"

"Alright then, I'll be at the Burrow in a week. See you then!" Hermione hung up the phone. 'Damn. Now what am I going to do?' she thought.

She had agreed to be Ginny's maid of honor without really thinking. Perhaps because she was on the phone and Gin had asked her so abruptly that Hermione had not thought out the question before answering. If they had been face to face, Hermione would have seen Ginny's red hair and remembered Ron. Then Hermione would have thought to say no. However, being the genius Ginny had a tendency to be, she had thought of this too, and had therefore been able to hoodwink Hermione into her wedding. "Damn Weasley's!" she shouted out in agony.

It had all begun with Ron. Even when Hermione was 12, the Weasley smile and charm tugged on her heart. Now, grown and out of school, and rid of him for 3 years, he still caused her stress. Perhaps, if he had not broken her heart, things would be different.

Perhaps…

Hermione had just stepped out of the shower and headed to her room that she shared with Ron. She started to dress, thinking about tonight. Ron was taking her out to dinner. He was not one for romance, so whatever he was going to do was obviously going to be big. She went to walk out of the room when she heard a voice.

"Are you sure? I mean, your not doing anything rash, are you?" It was a woman speaking, but who it was, Hermione was unsure.

Ron was talking to someone through the floo, that was obvious. Hermione decided to wait in their room before she came out. She didn't want to interrupt anything. Hermione could be a pain in the neck, but she had courtesy. Ron wouldn't interrupt her if she was talking to someone, so she wouldn't either.

Next Ron spoke, "No, I have it all planed out. It's about time I did this. Hermione may just leave me if I don't act quick."


This was interesting. What was he talking about? Hermione listened intently as the conversation continued.

"She would never do that, she had to wait for your silly ass to do something when you got together. She knows how you are; she'd never make the move. You have to do something. So, good luck."

"I just hope she doesn't go physco. I mean, I can handle excited and crying, but angry just scares me!"

"Why would she be angry. You said that she feels the same way!"

"Well, I think she does, but what if I read it wrong?"

"Don't you be whimping out now! Its now or never with you. I got to go, I'll see you later. Bye"

"Mhmm, bye."

Hermione was frozen with shock. Small bits of nonsense floated around her head. Then it clicked in her mind. He was leaving her tonight. He was taking her to dinner, so that he could leave her with less of a scene. Oh no, Ron was not going to have the last say if that was his intent. Hermione purposefully strode about the room and packed her things. She was fuming with anger. When all of her clothes and a few personal effects were packed into a small trunk (everything had been magically changed so that it fit), she moved into the kitchenette.

Ron sat at the small table munching on some toast and reading an article out of the Daily Prophet. He looked up at her as she came into view. "Hey, love. How are you?"

Hermione was in no mood for small talk. She shouted, "So that's you plan, huh? Going to take me to dinner and leave me! I heard you talking to that woman! Bet that's the new girl, isn't it? I thought you loved me, and instead you're going to l-leave me!" At this point, she dissolved into tears. "I'm l-leaving you, s-so now you don't have t-to do anything. Good-goodbye, Ron!"

He had gotten to his feet and was walking toward her. "'Mione, no. I'm not leaving you…"

"Don't even start with me! I d-don't want to hear it!" She pulled out her wand and pointed at him threatingly, "I said bye. Petrificus Totalus!"

He went ridged and fell to the floor as she left the flat.

Hermione resumed her sobs. 'I haven't seen him in 3 years, what in the world am I going to do?' she thought. Deciding that she was going to make the best of a bad situation, she calmed her tears a bit, and went off to her bedroom to pack.

A/N: The work in italics is a flashback. Please review!