Disclaimer: I do not own any of it. I only own the plotline.

Special thanks to: First Year for editing the story for me and helping with Krum's accent.

"Here you go Mr. Weasley. Your apartment's ready." Mr. Bleanks, the landlord, handed Ron his keys to his London apartment. Ron smiled. He finally had a place to call his own. He was glad to be back in London. He loved America, but his home was London.

"Thank you," he replied clutching the keys tightly in his palm of his right hand.

"If you need any help moving in let me know and I'll get some of the neighbors to help," the forty year old scruffy looking landlord said.

"I'll be alright. The truck will be here in an hour with my stuff. They knew where my storage shed was." Ron had decided to live in a Muggle neighborhood. After the war with Voldermort, he had wanted to give the wizard world a break for a while, which would explain why his training had taken longer than normal to become an Auror.

Ron had decided to train in the States to get away from everyone. He had wanted to become a Private Detective for the Wizard world. He told everyone that he was a special kind of Auror. Kingsley (the minister of magic) created a special department just for Ron and his partner in training Kevin Richards. The department was called MI or Muggle Investigating for short. "AHEM," Mr. Bleaks cleared his throat disrupting Ron's thoughts.

"OH. Thank you for everything. I know we talked on the phone, but I'm glad I got to meet you in person," Ron said. glad he had learned how to use the telephone when he was training. Kingsley said it was a better way to get a hold of each other if they were on a muggle mission.

"No problem. Let me know if you need anything," Mr. Bleaks said and walked off.

Ron fiddled with his keys for a moment before he went in. Taking a deep breath, he unlocked his door and walked in. A big open living room stared back at him. Cherry wood covered the floor of the apartment, and a big brick fireplace took up half of one wall. A window on the left took up the other wall. Ron walked into the kitchen. seeing a calendar laid on the island counter. with a note attached.

Please accept this free calendar. Mr. Bleaks. Ron smiled and thought, cheapskate, seeing how the year was half way over. Ron flipped to September and left it on the island. Taking a second glance at the date, he remembered his parents always had everyone over for dinner on Sundays. How he missed his mum's cooking. His roommate, Kevin cooked for them when they shared had an apartment in the states but he wasn't as good of a cook as his mum.

The lanky twenty-two year old red head decided that he should head over to his mum's house. He was starving and didn't want to cook anything himself. His mind kept pondering over the date. He knew that there was something else going on but couldn't quite remember it.

Mr. Bleaks would be there to help when the movers arrived. Ron didn't need to be there himself. He left a note for the landlord telling him he'd be out for the afternoon when the movers showed up. He decided he would surprise his family

Molly Weasley was in the kitchen stirring cake batter when she heard a CRACK. Seeing her youngest son stand in the kitchen made her drop the batter. Ron looked at his mum with a grin on his face. as the plump woman grabbed her wand and made the batter go back into the bowl without saying anything out loud. "RONNIEKINS!" She said after she placed the bowl on the counter.

"Hello mum." He stood there, looking at his mum looking like he had something to ask her. Sensing this, she looked at her youngest son.

"Ron if you're wondering about Hermione, she's here."

"How did you know that was what I was going to ask you?" He asked with a little squeak. While away in the States, Hermione and Ron, who had been a pretty serious couple since their seventh year at Hogwarts Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry, decided to take a break from each other. She'd wanted to see if there was anyone else out there for her before she got tied down and Ron had been heartbroken.

"I know you Ron. I can read your expressions well, I did raise you." She chuckled at this remark.

"Is she seeing anyone?" "Did you meet anyone while you were training?" His mum changed the subject all too quickly for Ron.

"Mum is she seeing anyone?" He asked, as Mrs. Weasley breathed in, and then sighed.

"Honey, you're not going to like my response."

"Mum, just tell me."

"She's engaged."

"Engaged?" He could hardly get the word out. Ron felt his heart sink. The only woman he'd ever loved was promised to someone else. Of course, he had dated Lavender Brown in Hogwarts, but that was just a fling. Hermione had been his only serious relationship, and she'd just easily exchanged him.

"Yes."

"To Whom who?"

"Viktor Krum."

He felt his face redden with anger. Of course things can only go from bad to worse at times when one's whole life is shattering. So It wasn't much of a surprise when Hermione chose that exact moment to walk into the room with his sister Ginny. Ron's anger suddenly vanished when she walked in the room. She always did that to him. Made everything disappear without saying anything.

"RON!" Ginny went over and squeezed her big brother. He gave her a hug in response but couldn't help notice Hermione's ring finger. A diamond ring shone in the light whenever it moved. However, Hermione's response was not as big as Ginny's.

"Oh hello, Ron," Hermione said, and then started getting glasses down from the cabinet. Ron was torn. She acted as if he was not even important. He noticed that she was getting two glasses down. "Hermione, your cake will be ready shortly after dinner," Mrs. Weasley said breaking the tension.

"Thank you, Molly." Hermione leaned against the counter for a moment as if wanting to be apart of the conversation.

"It's Hermione's birthday dear. She's been getting together with us ever since Hogwarts. We still count her as part of the family." Ron stared at his mum for a few seconds gathering his thoughts, wondering how this had happened.

Before he'd really had long enough to get himself together, yet another member of his ever growing family entered. It didn't matter that they weren't actual family yet, or even that the situation was tense. Just the sight of his best mate made Ron feel better, even if it did make him a little sick to watch as Ginny went over to him and flung her arms around the young man and kiss him on the lips. Only when he was free did Harry Potter look over the room and spot his best friend standing next to his soon to be mother in law.

"Ron! Kingsley said you were back in town. I'm glad to see you." Harry told him stepping around Ginny to give Ron a quick hug. He pulled back to look at Ron. "Oh you're still expected to come to work on Monday." Harry teased.

"Great," Ron stated, still feeling very uneasy. Harry frowned then saw Hermione standing against the counter. He instantly knew the reason for the tension in the room. He just sighed and stepped back near his own fiancé.

"Herm-own-ninny? Vare are you?" A voice called from the living room. said.

"He's here? Krum? In my parents' house?" Ron gritted through his teeth. Everyone stared at Ron, then Hermione. Silence filled the room.

"Herm-own-ninny?" Viktor Krum said again.

"Coming darling, I'm just getting our drinks." Hermione told her fiancé as she grabbed the drinks from the counter. No one said anything for several long minutes.

"Would anyone care to explain?" Ron said.

"Hermione brought Viktor to celebrate her birthday. We didn't know you would come home today. Ron, just try to hang in there. Viktor's not as bad as you think," Molly Weasley said.

"That's easy for you to say. I don't think I can be here any longer."

"Please Ron?" Ginny looked at her brother, where she stood still arm in arm with Harry.

"If you need to leave the room for a few minutes to think, you have a while until dinner's ready." Their mum said. Ron nodded.

"I'm going for a walk." With that said, Ron left the house in a hurry.

"Ron?" His heart skipped a beat. He knew that voice. He's heard that voice for years. Dreamt about it for years when he wasn't with her.

"Go away, Hermione," Ron said, not turning around to face her.

"Ron, I really think we should talk." He turned around. Since he had been home, he had never taken a good look at Hermione. Brown curls fell neatly around her face, not a single one out of place. She looked different, but a good different. Grown up. That's what it was. She was no longer the eleven year old girl he had fallen in love with. He figured never had a chance and pushed her out of his mind. Her pale pink sundress flattered her tiny form.

"Ron?" Hermione said.

"Come with me," Ron said, letting her know they could talk. When he was living in his parents' house, he had a favorite spot that was just his. He always went there when things weren't going well at home. Even the Weasley had their flaws. Behind the shed at the Burrow was a long path he had made when he was younger. The path led to a secluded lake he knew no one knew about. A wooden bench he made one summer long ago sat by itself, waiting for their presence.

"Oh wow," Hermione said looking across the lake as the blue turned to splashes of purples, pinks, and oranges. Sunset took its place in the sky as Ron took his seat. Hermione sat next to him. She shivered when the wind blew and pulled her black shawl closer to her.

"Does Vicky know you're out here?" Ron said, turning to her as he placed his arms tightly against his sides with his hands folded between his legs. She turned and looked at Ron.

"Don't start calling him that again, Ron."

"One thing that bugs me about you."

"What's that?"

"Why couldn't you wait for me?"

"Ron that's not fair. We agreed if you went away for training I was allowed to see other people."

"IdidntexpectyoutogotoKrum," he mumbled.

"Sorry? All I could understand was Krum." She told him. Ron sighed, breathed in and breathed out slowly, then began again.

"I didn't expect you to go to Krum." He started playing with his thumbs to prevent himself from looking at Hermione.

"I waited for you. You said training would take two years, then you went to private training with Kingsley and it took longer. I saw Viktor in the ministry one day and one thing lead to another. Here we are two years later, engaged and happy."

"But what about us?"

"We agreed to see other people. Remember, Ron?" She looked at him, tears forming in her eyes.

"No, Hermione you agreed to see other people. That doesn't stop me from wanting to be with you though." He stood and picked up a nearby stone, throwing it with all of his might into the water, watching it sink.

"You're being really unfair, Ronald." Standing up she moved in front of Ron so he could look at her and not the lake.

"Don't do this to me." "Do what? You're the one who turned on me and went to Krum. We could have had something when I came back from training. It's not my fault."

"No, I mean argue with me on my birthday." They looked at each other. Ron didn't know what to say. He didn't mean to ruin her birthday but he also didn't ask for any of this to happen.

"Leave me alone Hermione." He looked at her. He was hurt.

How could she just forget about him as if nothing happened? They'd had a whole summer together before Ron started his training. They had spent every night together at Hermione's flat before he had left. Then she realized she couldn't handle the stress and loneliness of him being away from her so she had ended it with him.

"Ron, please. We can talk about this some other time. I really should get back. They'll be waiting for me." Hermione turned on her heels and started heading back to the house.

"I can see you are still wearing the necklace I gave you." She turned around and placed her finger and thumb on it, staring at him. He remembered buying the necklace. After working several long extra hours in the shop with George, he had saved enough money up for her birthday present before she went back to school.

He remembered how Hermione's birthday the year after the war had been special for her.

He had it all planned out. He had purchased the necklace from a shop he had seen in Hogsmeade. It screamed her name to him and he remembered once he had seen it he had to buy it. A delicate silver chain was the home to two silver otters swam in an entwining form, creating a circle. In the circle's center was a round, dark blue sapphire, Hermione's birthstone. Hermione had been overjoyed.

Ron had wanted to give her something to remind her how much she meant to him while she was away at Hogwarts. Now all he could see was the ring on her finger.

"How could you say that you don't want to be with me anymore when you still wear what I gave you?" Ron said.

"Ron, please not now. I still wear the necklace because it reminds me of you. Of what we had. I was afraid to find out that you found someone else."

He walked up to her and placed his hand gently on her.

"Hermione don't you realize that there isn't anyone out there? You're the only one for me. I don't want to be with anyone else. I've known that ever since our first year at Hogwarts."

He knew what he had to do. He cupped her face with his hands and gave her a long kiss. She almost pushed him away then took in the kiss, kissing him back. For a moment, everything seemed right. Then she realized what she was doing and pushed him away. Hermione stared at Ron, tears falling from her eyes like fresh rain falling from the sky.

"Ron what we had was special. You shouldn't have kissed me. I don't want to remember the past. I want to think of the future with Viktor." She turned on her heel again. Ron grabbed her arm gently once more.

"Hermione, isn't kissing me better than kissing Viktor?"

"That is none of your business Ronald!" Hermione's face turned apple red as if it was agreeing with his question.

"Why are you doing this to me? It shouldn't be so hard."

"What shouldn't?"

"Life."

"No one said it was going to be easy. You of all people should know that." She glared at his sarcastic response. Hermione shivered again, looking across the deep lake. The sun set further in the clouds making everything look darker.

"Now if you excuse me, I have to get back to them."

"You don't know your way back, let me lead you." Ron knew this was the last straw for Hermione, but could not stop from saying it anyway.

"I think I am quite capable of finding my way back," she shouted to at him. She looked at him expecting him to say something. When he didn't, she ran back to the house in tears.

Author's note: Thank you for reading this story. I edited this story to make it flow better.