A story inspired by JK Rowling's recent revelation that she shouldn't have coupled Ron and Hermione, and that to work they would need a great deal of counselling. I am of the opinion that no amount of counselling would fix these too, and that Hermione and Ron have always needed completely different people to be with.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. This disclaimer applies to all chapters.

"So, Mr and Mrs Weasley, we've had fiften sessions now. How do you think it's going?"

Hermione straightened in her chair and looked sideways at Ron. He scowled at her obvious eagerness, but stayed silent. Hermione took her usual role.

"I don't think we've achieved very much, apart from to recognise the huge differences between us."

Dr Abbott nodded.

"Mr Weasley, would you like to comment?"

"I think everyone argues, and me and Hermione have always had different interests, but I think if a few things changed, we could work again."

"We both work, Ron. Both in important jobs. And yet I was the one who left early to pick up the children when they were small, and cooked, and cleaned, and spent my whole weekend tidying and sorting everyone out. You went out with Harry, or slept, and basically just took care of yourself, and thought fatherhood was playing with your children for an hour every week. Our different interests are not what has driven us apart, it's your selfishness and willingness to leave everything unpleasant to me."

Ron's face grew red.

"You never let me do anything useful! You wouldn't trust me with anything important! You used to follow me around, checking to see I'd done each task properly. And clearly, since it wasn't completed to your high standards, it wasn't good enough. You took over everything. You always do!"

Hermione spluttered.

"Well, you should have been better. Tried better. Your idea of washing the children, one evening, was to splash them with water from the kitchen tap. Sufficient, in your opinion. Your cooking is awful. You can't make beds, or iron, or wash. You never even tried to get better, or to listen to me."

"Why should I have to do that stuff? My mum always did it at home, and I thought you would just take care of it now."

Hermione took a deep breath and looked at Dr Abbott.

"Hermione, would you like to step outside?"

Hermione nodded and left the room silently.

Sometimes she didn't know why she had married Ron. Well clearly, since she was here now. They were on completely different levels. Hermione was serious, ambitious. She valued her intelligence. She was never going to be a housewife. She respected Mrs Weasley, and all the other women she knew who were housewives, but she knew it wasn't for her. And she thought Ron had loved her for it. Well, clearly he had been looking for someone who would just take care of him and be satisfied with just that.

Hermione sobbed and wiped away the tears gathering under her eyes. She couldn't give up on him, but it was getting increasingly difficult to continue like this.

She went back in and sat down.

"Ron, I will never be satisfied with just looking after you. I want an equal partnership where we can be fulfilled at work and at home, and I would love to make things work with you. But only if you promise to try to make things equal between us. Help with cooking, cleaning and minding the children. Let me rest, too, and have a real weekend. We can do it if we work together."

Ron looked at Hermione. Her bushy brown hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and her brown eyes looked at him beseechingly.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I've been thinking pretty hard ever since we came here."

Hermione suppressed her petty remark that all that thinking must have been painful.

"You're cleverer than me, Hermione, and you pick everything up quickly. I'm slower, I'm happy with a lot less. I just wanted someone who would love me and take care of me."

"I do love you, Ron, so much," Hermione said, sobbing.

"But you can't. Your focus is split. And I can't be what you want. I can't be your equal, because we're too different."

"Ron, you're so kind and funny..."

"Stop. I ignored you for years. I was clueless. I even went out with Lavender before I noticed you. Viktor Krum saw you and accepted you completely before you did that thing with your hair at the Yule Ball. I want you to be happy, and you aren't happy with me."

Hermione reached for her husband's hand and grasped it tightly.

"Ron, don't do this. We can work it out."

"We had a good run, 'Mione. We have two beautiful, clever children. It's better we end it now before we ruin our relationship completely."

Hermione shook her head.

"It's what I want, Hermione, and it's what you want too."

Dr Abbott looked at them both, pen poised.

"Are we reaching some kind of reconciliation?"

"Ron, I'm so proud of you. You're far more mature than I could ever be in this situation," Hermione said. "But only if you're sure."

Ron turned to Dr Abbott.

"Hannah, we're getting a divorce."