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"I'll just grab us another round of butterbeers and crisps, be back in a tic."
With that, Ron straightened his tie and headed straight for the still lovely Madam Rosmerta, who winked as the tall redhead sidled up to the bar and began flirting shamelessly with her.
Ginny, who had excused herself from their annual trip to The Three Broomsticks in favor of yet another marathon shopping expedition with Astoria Malfoy and Cho Chang-Flint, was mercifully absent, sparing Hermione her sharp analysis of exactly which faults of her sister-in-law's had led to Ron's continual straying. So far, Harry had been mercifully oblivious. Ron had been careful to conceal his extracurricular activities from his best mate, his children and his brothers.
Was Ginny unloading all the Potter gold in Paris or Milan this time, Hermione wondered idly, watching silently as her husband surreptitiously gave Rosmerta's bottom a fond squeeze before giving a sharp nod towards the stairs that led to the pub's private rooms.
Well, she had long been aware that Ron was having affairs, hadn't she?
The fact that he no longer bothered to hide it and fact that she no longer cared spoke volumes about the state of their marriage. Ever the caring mother, Hermione had been reluctant to analyze the mess until after Hugo was safely out of the house and beginning his Hogwarts career. But now was the time to face what her life had become and decide what she was going to do about it.
Just then, Harry emerged from the loo and spotted his best male friend disappearing up the stairs as the bar matron stripped off her apron to follow in his wake. His green eyes flashed with fury and only Hermione's gentle hand on his arm stopped him from tearing up the stairs and beating his best mate like a Muggle.
"No, Harry... he's not worth it. Let's just go, okay?" Hermione drew a shuddering breath and slipped off her wedding ring, placing it on Ron's empty sack of salt-and-vinegar crisps.
She was done.