Hermione would never cheat on a significant other. Or at least that what she had always thought. She'd witnessed first hand how much damage it could do to a relationship after her Aunt had been caught in the act cheating on her Uncle when she was eight or nine years old. That was the first time she had ever heard an adult male cry and it still haunted her sometimes.
When she and Ron first got together she fell head over heels in love with him. He was everything she wanted, funny, kind, and lovable in his own way. They loved being together and within six months they moved in together. After four years, however, they were starting to drift apart. Ron was an auror for the Ministry of Magic and worked long hours. There were some nights that he was so wrapped up in a project that he wouldn't even come home. Hermione, on the other hand, had been accepted into a very intense and difficult research project that would hopefully result in her becoming the next Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts.
When they first started to drift apart, Hermione thought it was because they never saw each other. She brought it up to him and they started to make more time together and go on dates again but she quickly realized that that wasn't the case at all. When they did make the time for each other they had nothing to talk about and they had nothing in common. They couldn't even go to the movies without an argument about it because they had such conflicting tastes in movies. Life was starting to become very routine and Hermione was getting bored and depressed. Even though was starting to build up resentment towards Ron, she never would have done anything to hurt him. That is, she never intended to do anything to hurt him until she ran into no other than Charlie Weasley.
Charlie Weasley was the second oldest Weasley brother and was just so free spirited. Hermione had always admired how peaceful and happy he always seemed. His stocky, muscular build along with his scruffy beard also appealed to her and developed a little, seemingly harmless crush on him. When she was in Hogwarts, Hermione had never really spent a lot of time with Charlie but after the war ended and they graduated he was around more. When he went over to The Burrow for dinner she didn't talk to him much but she loved listening to him talk to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley about what he was doing in Romania with the dragons. It always sounded so interesting and she admired how in love he was with his work.
One day, after a long and stressful day at work, Hermione went to Diagon Alley to get a new pair of dress robes for a work function, a light maroon with some sparkle to the skirt part of them. When she was done, she went into the Leaky Cauldron to get a drink before she went back home. It was going to be the first night Ron was going to be home for almost a week and she could feel her anxiety starting to creep up on her and wanted something to calm herself down. She shook herself angrily as she walked into the pub. She loved him, even if it wasn't romantic anymore. There was no need to feel anxious going home to him. As she sat down at the bar and ordered her drink, she noticed Charlie was there, sitting a few seats down from her. After a few moments he glanced over with a smile, just noticing that she was there..
"Hey! What are you doing here? Nice to see you!" He said, scooting down the few seats between them so he could sit next to her.
"Long day at work." Hermione replied with a small smile, sipping on her drink.
They sat for an unknown amount of time and got lost in conversation. Hermione couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard. She felt so at peace talking to him and they didn't have those awkward silences that she'd become accustomed to with Ron. She didn't notice him place his hand on her leg and she felt herself shiver with pleasure. Charlie quickly brought his hand away, clearly thinking that he had crossed a line.
"I'm sorry." He stammered quickly. "I got carried away. I didn't know what I was thinking. Please forgive me. I don't want to do anything that would damage yours and Ron's relationship."
"Our relationship isn't all it's cracked up to be." Hermione blurted out. Charlie raised an eyebrow.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, now looking concerned. She shook herself angrily. She had never told anyone just how bad things were between her and Ron and she definitely hadn't meant to tell Charlie out of anyone.
"I'm okay. It's okay… I have to go." The brunette stammered, standing up and placing some change on the table. She walked outside and was about to apparate when she heard Charlie's footsteps behind her. Hermione turned around to face him.
"Listen, I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. But it looks like you need someone to talk to and I can be that person. I know we don't know each other very well but I care about you a lot, Hermione. And especially if it has something to do with my brother I might be able to help. Who would know him better than someone in his own family?" Hermione paused for a moment and glanced over at him, he looked back at her looking more concerned than he had a few moments before. She could feel the tears welling up inside her and nodded her head. Maybe talking to Charlie could help plus it would mean more time spent with him and less time spent at home with Ron. He walked over next to her and apparated them both to his apartment in Romania.
The apartment was a tiny studio but Charlie didn't need much. She sat on his futon as he bustled off to make tea and looked around. There wasn't much of a style to it but it had a rustic sort of vibe. There was even a small spiral staircase that lead up to a loft where he slept. After a few moments Charlie came back and set next to her, being sure to put some extra space between the two of them. He was clearly still bothered by what had happened back at the Leaky Cauldron.
"So," He began awkwardly. "What do you want to talk about? What can I do to help you." Before she knew it, Hermione was telling Charlie her entire life story. From finding out she was a witch to performing the memory charm on her parents so they'd be safe while she, Ron, and Harry went off to find the Horcruxes. When she got to her relationship with Ron she didn't hold back. Hermione told him all about thinking it was all due to not spending as much time together because of their work schedules, but then, even after taking the time to "date" again saw nothing was helping.
"Do you and him ever argue?" He asked when she finished. She shook her head.
"No, we hardly ever fight and he's never gotten physical with me. We're just so different and I feel like we've grown apart. I feel like both of us can sense it but neither of us want to bring it up. I don't even know who I am anymore." Hermione could feel the tears coming again and this time couldn't hold them in. Charlie scooted closer to her and gave her a hug, rubbing her back.
"Let it all out, Hermione. I'm here for you." He murmured into her hair. A few moments later she was done crying and he let go.
"I just don't know what to do." Hermione hiccupped.
"I wish I had some advice for you but I don't." Charlie replied. "You guys seem to have tried a lot to try to fix things but sometimes people just fall out of love or grow apart. To be honest since I've gotten to know you better the last few years I've never sensed any sort of chemistry between the two of you."
Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "Yea but I can't imagine my life without him. We've been through so much in fighting Voldemort. I can't imagine just turning my back on that."
"No one said you couldn't be friends." Charlie reminded her gently. "I feel like if things didn't work out for you romantically you guys could stay best friends. I want you to think about what I've said for a moment." Hermione took a few minutes to fully process everything that Charlie suggested.
"You know, now that I think about it, if Ron ever came home with another girl I honestly don't think it would bother me. I wouldn't be jealous, I'd want him to be happy." She finally said thoughtfully. Charlie looked a little surprised but quickly masked it with a small smile.
"I know it's hard to think about and you obviously need to do what's best for you. I just want you to remember that there are other options. Your life doesn't need to be like this, you shouldn't have to feel like this.. You're smart, beautiful, and talented. Anyone would be lucky to have you."
Suddenly his face turned bright red and he stood up abruptly. Hermione sat still and waited for him to come back with a strong smelling glass of some sort of whiskey.
"I'm sorry." He repeated for what seemed like the millionth time that night after taking a long swig. Without fully thinking Hermione reached over and gently kissed him. When they broke apart he smiled.
"Are you sure you wanted to do that?" He asked her.
"More sure than I've been in a long time." She answered. Hermione moved closer to him on the couch and kissed him again, slowly and taking time to savor the lips she'd been thinking about on and off for the last few years.
Charlie deepened the kiss and gently nibbled her bottom lip.
"Mmmm." She moaned against his lips. She fumbled around with the button on his jeans and within two minutes they were both completely naked.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" He slurred against her lips, she nodded her head fervently. When they were finished she fell asleep against his naked chest. Completely satisfied and at peace for the first time in a long time.