Author's Note: Many thanks to Cozy for the first reading of this. Also, I have replaced the original version with one that has the italics done correctly for this format. Sorry for any distractions in the previous version.

Chapter One: Reconciliation

"I don't think I can do it anymore, Hermione," Harry said, looking straight into her eyes. "I thought things would be different after the war."

"They are different, Harry. That's the problem."

Hermione sat across from Harry at her favourite corner table at the Blind Eye pub in Muggle London. She'd chosen the place originally for the fact that it wasn't too far from Diagon Alley and the wizarding world, but kept coming because of the bartender. There was something about him that seemed comfortable, familiar. Maybe it was the way he smelled of patchouli and sandalwood, or the fact that he never spoke. Or maybe it was how he seemed to know exactly when to bring out the really good beer. Like today. If she didn't know better, she'd have sworn he'd laced it with a Cheering Potion.

"Yeah. The things I wanted to change didn't. The things I wanted to stay . . ."

She knew he was thinking of Ginny. "She'll be back. I know it seems -"

"Did you know she was sleeping with someone?"

Hermione took a long swig of her beer. "No, I didn't know she was seeing anyone. But it's Ginny! You know she always -"

"Do you know who she was seeing?"

"No." Hermione couldn't figure out why it would be important. Unless it was Draco Malfoy, of course, but he seemed happily married and even happier to avoid anything that would remind him of the past.

"Luna. Luna Lovegood." Hermione nearly spilled her drink. "I don't think she's coming back, Hermione."

Harry's eyes looked out into the distance. Hermione noticed he hadn't even touched his drink.

"She said she was only staying with me because she wanted a family, but she was tired of waiting." He paused again. Hermione knew they'd struggled over Ginny's lack of a child. They'd tried magical and even Muggle fertility treatments, but to no avail. Harry continued. "But how could she keep such a big secret from me! I never even knew she liked women. She should have known I would never have judged her for that! And she's been cheating on me with Luna for who knows how long! Maybe even before . . ."

He took his first drink of the beer, and Hermione watched his eyes brighten slightly, then narrow. "I don't trust this place," he said, setting the drink down firmly. "You shouldn't come here anymore. The bartender gives me the creeps."

"You're just being paranoid," she said, laughing, hoping to jar him out of his mood. "This is a normal pub in London, and it's not like we're defenceless." She let the end of her wand extend slightly from where she had it concealed in her sleeve.

He took a deep breath. "You're probably right, but there's something strange about this beer, almost as if it's been spiked or something."

"You're just used to butterbeer," she said, deflecting her own thoughts away from the suspicion she'd had earlier about the Cheering Potion.

"Maybe." He lapsed into silence again.

Then, he spoke. "I wrote to Ron, but he hasn't returned any of my greetings. That was before Ginny left. Do you think he knew?"

Hermione sighed. "He hasn't written back to me either, so I don't think that's it. He probably hasn't even talked to Ginny, either. Too caught up with his Quidditch career. I wish I'd never Confunded McLaggen-Ron has turned into his double."

Harry's eyes widened. "He's your husband! Why wouldn't he write to you?"

"It's just a piece of paper. I never see him anymore." Hermione felt her eyes swell with tears, so she gulped down some more of the beer, frantic that maybe it would have some Cheering Potion in it. She needed to be strong for Harry now. Then, she took a deep breath. "Not that it's all that surprising. I mean, really, what did we have in common? A troll in first year?" She shook her head. "He was always into Quidditch and I, I was always into books."

"I guess." Harry looked out into the distance again. "How did it all go so wrong? We won the war; we're supposed to have happy lives."

"It doesn't work that way, I guess."

"Well, it's not fair. I sacrificed everything, everything, for love, for this life, and this is what I get? Snape, Narcissa . . . I can't believe I'm saying this, but they were more honourable than the people I trusted." He looked sheepishly at Hermione, "Except for you, of course."

She waved his words away with her hand. "Sirius was right all those years ago, Harry. People aren't just good and evil. They're all shades of grey. We just do the best we can with what we have."

"And what if what we have is nothing?"

"Harry -"

"I'm done here," he said rising. "I'm going to talk to Ron."

He was to the door before she knew it. "Harry! You don't have nothing! You have me!"

The door slammed and he was gone. Hermione sat down again and ordered another beer. She usually only had one, but she didn't know what to do about Harry. Or Ron. She knew she should be happy with her situation. She'd never really been a romantic sort, keeping her eyes on her schooling and career, and things with Ron had just sort of sprung up on her. It was all confused, almost like she hadn't had a choice in liking him, and then he just disappeared into Quidditch one day. It had happened gradually - first, he started spending his tours away to give her time for her research, and then he'd moved into a flat closer to the home field, and she'd been so caught up with her new job at the Ministry that she hardly even noticed, until one night after a game, they'd had sex, and the next morning they couldn't think of anything to talk about because their lives were so different. At least it wasn't like what Harry was going through. There was no betrayal; they'd just slowly moved apart. She still loved him dearly, but he wasn't a husband anymore. A tear slid slowly down her cheek. He wasn't even a friend anymore.

A third beer appeared before her, as if out of nowhere, but she shooed it away. Two was more than enough. She took a deep breath and headed back to Diagon Alley. From there, she could Apparate back to her house.

As if her thoughts had conjured him, Ron was there when she arrived.

"Hermione!" he said, running to catch her in a big hug. He's trying too hard. After her conversation with Harry and her thoughts about Ron, she didn't feel like hugging him, but she did. "We won! We're going to the championship!"

"That's great, Ron," she said, trying to muster enthusiasm. "Did you talk to Harry?" she asked. "Or Ginny?"

He backed up, finally aware that something was wrong. "Well, I got a letter from Harry last week saying he wanted to talk to me about something, and Ginny wrote yesterday saying she had news." A grin spread over his face. "Don't tell me - did they do it? Is she pregnant?"

"No, Ron," Hermione said, hating to be the one to say it. "Ginny left Harry. The last time I saw him was about an hour ago. He said he was headed to talk to you."

"Oh, well, I didn't go back to my flat. After the game, I came straight here. Why did she leave him? I mean, they've always -"

"She left him for Luna Lovegood. Apparently, they've been having an affair for quite some time. Did you know Ginny liked women?"

"Luna? I've always known Ginny had odd taste, but Luna?" He looked back to Hermione. "And no, she never told me about that, but I suppose I could have seen it if I'd looked. I mean, she's always been a bit of a tomboy, you know. But wow, Harry. That's really got to hurt. And what am I supposed to do? I'm her brother and his best friend! They're both going to want me to take sides!"

"Just tell them both what you think. You know, be honest. And supportive. You don't have to take sides if you don't want to."

"Yeah, I guess." He tousled his hair in obvious frustration, and Hermione decided to change the subject.

"So, what brings you here? I haven't seen you in about a month, now."

"I know, Hermione. I've been thinking." He moved closer, looking seriously into her eyes. "I never meant for it to happen like this. I still think about you all the time. I want to try, to try to be a better husband. I was wondering if you'd mind if I moved back in. With what's going on with Harry and Ginny, it's even more important to me."

Hermione swallowed. She hadn't expected this. Tears escaped finally in a steady flow, and she grabbed Ron to her, hugging him as hard as she could. "I - I'd like that," she managed between tears. "I never meant for it to happen either. I want-want to be a better wife, too."

Their lips met. Hermione lost herself in the kiss and did not know how they ended up in the bed. Ron had a devious look on his face before speaking. "I think I've transgressed, Professor Granger. I think you'll need to punish me." He had always called her by her maiden name in these games, but they hadn't played them since their honeymoon.

"Yes," she said, feeling her own eyes twinkle in anticipation. "I think I do." She was about to start getting creative, when the signal of someone Flooing suddenly went off. Both of them hurried to dress, but they weren't quite fast enough. The door to the bedroom opened right as Hermione realized her shirt was on backwards, and Ron hadn't got his shirt on at all. She didn't even want to know what her hair looked like, and hoped desperately that it wasn't someone she would care about impressing.

"Hermione," came Harry's voice from the doorway. "Ron isn't -" He stopped, seeing the very man before his eyes.

Hermione felt herself blushing. "He came home," she said, simply.

"Hi, Harry," Ron said, smiling stupidly.

"I - I should leave." Harry's voice was strained as he backed out of the bedroom.

"No, wait, don't go." Ron moved to intercept him. "I haven't been the best of friends lately. I'd like to make it up."

"But Hermione's -" Harry looked at her significantly. "I wouldn't want to interrupt."

"Go on, Harry, talk to Ron. Ron and I can continue later." She smiled what she knew to be an evil smile at Ron and watched him shiver in anticipation. Things were going to be okay.