A/N: I apologise in advance that these chapters are so short. I hope you all enjoy regardless! Many thanks to my wonderful beta, Krissy.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 1

Hermione shook her head, pulling away from Ron. "No, don't even try to explain yourself, Ron. I… I can't do this anymore."

Ron frowned, looking at his girlfriend of two years. "Mione, I don't understand…"

"Please don't call me Mione, Ron! I hate that nickname. And I –" She shook her head, feeling her own heart break. "I just can't be with you anymore." She hated that she was putting that sad and hurt look in his eyes.

"And I don't understand why, Hermione! You come home from work telling me that you want to end our relationship out of the blue! I'm so lost right now," Ron looked at her, visibly upset.

She shook her head, tears running down her face. "It's hard to explain, but I just don't love you anymore, Ron. You're my best friend and I love you, I'm just not in love with you anymore." It had been a long time coming, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Finally, she did.

"Was it something I did?"

She shook her head. She hated doing this, breaking his heart… but she needed to. "Ron, I just... we don't fit together anymore, don't you see?"

"No, I don't." He ran his hand through his ginger hair, looking frustrated and hurt all at once. "I was going to propose, Hermione! I thought things were going great." His hands clenched into fists by his side.

Hermione let out a strangled sob at his words. "Ron, I'm so sorry." She had no idea that Ron had wanted to propose… He never showed any signs.

"Maybe you just need some space? I'll come back over tomorrow and we can-"

"No!" she half-shouted in desperation. "Please, Ron, I hate doing this, but we're done. I love you dearly, but there's just no passion in my life! You're like my brother."

Ron stumbled backwards, looking as if she had slapped him in the face.

"Ron, I –" She reached out to him, half-wanting to take it back, half-glad that it was finally out there.

"No, just don't, Hermione. If this is what you want… then fine. As long you're happy." The words looked as if they were killing him.

"Please, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you." Hermione felt her voice crack and knew that she was going to lose control of her emotions. "Please, know that I never wanted to hurt you."

Ron shook his head, not quite hearing her. "I need some space, Hermione. With those final words, he Apparated out of her apartment, leaving her alone.

Hermione collapsed on her sofa sobbing, unable to hold it back . She was the one who had suggested they break up, but it still hurt. Ron had been a constant part of her life for so many years, it was going to be difficult without him. But still…

After two years, she just didn't love him the same way. It wasn't her fault! People fall in and out of love all the time, that she knew. It couldn't be helped sometimes.

Hermione didn't doubt that Molly would be upset about their break-up seeing as she had planned on Hermione becoming a Weasley for the longest time. She also knew that Harry and Ginny would be upset as well...

But I have to do what's best for me, she reminded herself. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

Work had been stressful, her relationship a flop, and her parents were still angry at her for wiping their memories. Hermione let out a frustrated sigh. She needed to get away! But where? Where could she go so last minute?

At that moment, an owl started pecking at her window. Standing up, she went over to let it in. She accepted the letter and gave the family owl a treat before watched it fly off into the night.

Opening it, she saw it was a letter from Viktor. The two of them wrote to each other every month to keep in touch.

Her eyes widened. Viktor! This was the answer to her problem. She hastily grabbed a pen and wrote to him, asking if she could stay with him for a week or two.

She needed to get away, and what better place to get away from all this than Bulgaria?