A.N. - This story will be about 16,000 words. Happy reading!

Warnings: OOC

Hermione tapped her fingers on the wooden table in a repetitive pattern absentmindedly as she watched the entrance to the upscale pub. She tried to ignore the jubilant and lively atmosphere that engulfed the place. It had only been around a few months and was incredibly popular – Ron's current favourite place.

She saw movement at the entrance and scanned the group. No sign of him - just an amorous couple. Sighing, she drained her drink and placed it back on the table.

I can't believe he stood me up again!

This was the third date in a row that Ron had failed to make on time. Glancing at the clock, she realised it was almost 8.30pm.

One and a half hour's late! A record, apparently. He'd better have a good reason this time or else he's going to find to himself spare one girlfriend.

Starting to hunt through her bag for her purse to pay the tab, Hermione tried to decide what a good excuse would be.

In hospital – yes. Injured and unable to move in a ditch – hopefully. Forgot me again – he can find a new girlfriend. Emergency at the Ministry – he would have been able to send a patronus or owl, so no. Molly asked him to dinner – I'll put him into the ditch myself. He went to another pub with co-workers – I'll start dating one of them instead.

Her thoughts were abruptly halted when she leaned too far backwards and fell from her chair.

Ekk!

Thump!

'Ouch,' she grumbled, shakily returning to her feet and glanced around to see if anyone had noticed.

Sparking grey eyes caught hers.

Sod it – of all the people it would be Draco.

The pair had an… interesting relationship.

When she first joined her department from the Department of Magical Creatures, the two had grudgingly called a truce after a month of vicious arguments that finally resulted in exploding a valuable potion and the threat of firing them both despite their impressive Potion Mastery results.

Since then, they had slowly built an accord; valuing the others abilities and skills, often bouncing potion development idea off the other. While they only ever saw each other at work or the occasional lunch to discuss an idea, Ron hated their loose friendship: for that reason, Hermione kept her distance from the blond. Although deep in the hidden cresses of her mind, she also acknowledged that the other reason she kept her distance was because she reluctantly found Draco rather handsome and charming.

She saw the blond excuse himself from the group he was with and saunter over.

'Evening, Hermione. Why were you crawling around on the floor?' Draco asked with a smirk.

She shot him a withering look.

'I wasn't crawling and it was hardly intentional,' she replied coolly and continued hunting for her purse. Seeing her draw it out, Draco withdrew his money bag and dropped some galleons on the table by her drink.

'I can pay for myself.'

'That wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me.'

'Given I'm not here with you, your gentlemanliness is not in question; despite its existence being doubtful.'

Draco gave her a charming grin. 'But I amhere with you, right next to you, in fact.'

'Don't be a prat,' Hermione replied tiredly, picking up the galleons and trying to return them to his hand.

He slid his hands into his pockets to keep them unavailable.

'You can put the galleons in my pockets if you wish.'

Hermione scowled, but decided it wasn't worth the effort, she would return the money when she saw him at work on Monday. The pair worked in the same team of the Ministry's Potions Creation Department with neighbouring lab benches; it would be easy to drop the money off when he went for a tea.

'Fine,' she conceded.

Draco grinned in response and indicated to the bartender to get them a bottle of red wine.

'What, no no no. Draco, I'm going home,' Hermione quickly corrected him.

'Why?'

'Because it's late and I'm tired.'

'It's only,' he paused to glance at his watch, '8.34pm and you're only tired because you clearly haven't eaten.'

'Please don't be difficult, I really don't have the energy.'

'Steve,' Draco called to the bartender, 'can you add your magnificent linguine to the order for this beautiful lady?'

The bartender nodded and called it through to the kitchen.

'Draco,' Hermione tried to snap, but it came out more like a whine.

Draco directed her back to the stool and sat next to her, drawing his chair so close that he was almost touching her legs. Hermione folded her arms on the tabletop and dropped her head on her new arm-pillow while she waited for the food to arrive.

'So I'm guessing by how dolled up you are, you were supposed to be meeting the ginger oaf and he is late once again.'

'Mmph.'

'I'll take that as a yes. So how late is the ginger oaf today – it looked like you were giving up.'

Knowing he could be irritatingly determined, she answered, 'Mphre n huff.'

'I'm afraid I'm not fluent arm,' Draco replied, leaning his head close to her own.

Rolling her head to the side, she re-spoke, 'Hour and a half.'

'Oh, Hermione, that is pathetic!'

'Shut up,' she said and then buried her head back in her arms, blush staining her cheeks.

'Why is he late?' Draco probed.

She shrugged.

'Are you telling me that you have been sitting waiting on this stool for dinner for an hour and a half and the ginger oaf hasn't even had the courtesy to let you know what the hold-up is or if he is even coming?'

'He always turns up eventually,' Hermione defended.

'You were leaving,' Draco countered.

'Yes, well I'm hungry.'

'And wanting to sulk. Sorry, Hermione, that won't be happening tonight. You got dressed up for a night out, and so a night out you shall have.'

'Draco, I'm with Ron.'

'Happily?'

'Yes,' she sighed, not believing it even as she spoke.

'I don't believe you. Until you convince me otherwise, you are having your night out with me.'

'Draco, I'm serious, I'm not having a night out with you, I'm not a cheat.'

'Never implied you were – I wouldn't like you nearly as much if you were so fickle.'

'Why are you doing this, Draco? I don't need your charity.'

'Oh my dear Hermione, spending the night with you is not charity. Right now I am sitting with the most beautiful, intelligent, and caring person in the room.'

'Do you know everyone in the room.'

'No. But the first is obvious – I can see you are the most beautiful,' Draco explained.

Hermione scoffed and Draco gave her a warning look.

'The second is a no brainer – brightest witch of the age. The third, well you forgave me for the past and spend each and every day trying to find a cure to lycanopathy.'

'I don't on the weekends.'

'I have absolutely no doubt that you research at home as well. Go on, lie to my face,' he challenged, eyes focused intensely on her face with a smug smile.

'It's just a little bit.'

He grinned in triumph.

'And more than anyone else. Truly, Hermione, right now I'm the luckiest man in this room. I want to spend the evening with you.'

'And I suppose I'm the luckiest lady?'

'Well, of course,' he replied, gesturing to himself.

Hermione cracked a smile at his ludicrous level of confidence.

'And now you look even prettier. I was going to ask you to join my friends and I, but they might just try to run off with you if you smile like that.'

Hermione rolled her eyes at the over the top compliments.

'I'll not be running off with anyone. At the moment, I'm still dating Ron.'

'At the moment?'

'Yes.' She paused, contemplating whether to say more. A stab of hunger prompted her to continue. 'If he is injured in a ditch I will forgive him for standing me up, again.'

'And if he isn't?'

'Then he will be soon.'

'Woodswish just finished his new potion, I believe he needs someone to test it on.'

Hermione gave him an unamused look. She would not be giving Ron a pregnancy simulation potion.

'Oh come on, it would be hilarious – besides, it only lasts one week.'

'You're terrible,' she scolded lightly.

'Yeah, but oh so fun and reliable.'

A Jack Russell Terrier patronus swooshed into the bar and halted in front of Hermione. It turned to Draco and growled slightly, before facing Hermione. 'Sorry, Hermione, I was finishing up an important case and completely forgot about our plans—'

That's it, I'm done with this. I deserve better than being a second thought. Once, I can forgive. Twice, I'll forgive. But three times in two weeks, no. Not a chance.

'Do you want to pick up some Chinese and come over to mine, I won't be at work much longer; we can eat and watch a movie together.'

Is he kidding? He wants me to pick up dinner for him after he stood me up, and then spend the rest of my evening with him. He should have left work immediately and come to apologise in person when he realised his mistake – his boss it away until Wednesday so there can't be any rush.

'You could stay the night,' the message finished and the patronus smoke dissipated.

Oh Merlin, he did not just imply we could have sex in a public message!

Hermione wasn't sure if she was feeling more angry or embarrassed.

'So, no ditch,' Draco drawled.

'No ditch, apparently,' she replied, punctuating the last word.

Two wine glasses and the bottle of red were placed in front of them.

Hermione raised her head and said, 'I'll be back in a minute, pour me a glass,' and then leaving her bag behind, stalked out of the pub.

Cold air pinched her face when she stepped out into the dark evening. She turned a sharp right and went into the adjacent lane.

Destination, determination, deliberation.

Flicking her wand, she disappeared from the alleyway.

.*.

Hermione reappeared in the empty main atrium of the Ministry of Magic and strode towards the elevators. The doors opened as she neared and she stepped inside. Pushing the button to floor six in sharp jagged movements, the button illuminated and the doors closed.

Okay, deep breaths. Going in there with my emotions running rampant will not end this relationship smoothly; Ron will get mad and not believe me. I'll just explain the problem, again, and end things. I won't be drawn into an argument, just say my piece nicely and leave him to do whatever he decides. I'll have to get my apartment key back as well.

Ding.

The doors opened and Hermione stepped out, body snapping to the left as she followed the corridor to Ron's desk. The lights were all dim as she walked, but it grew brighter as she neared her destination. Thankfully, the place was completely deserted, bar her soon-to-be ex.

Hermione saw Ron with his head down, scribbling on a form in his messy handwriting.

Her footsteps must have alerted him to the approaching person, as Ron looked up, eyes taking a few moments to focus.

'Hermione! Great, I'll be another twenty minutes or so. Where's the food?' her oblivious boyfriend asked.

This should go better if we are both sitting.

Hermione pulled over a nearby chair and sat down, it creaked slightly and she tentatively tested it to ensure it wouldn't collapse under her at an inopportune moment.

'Ron, can you please put down the quill for a few minutes?'

'Can't it wait? I'm on a roll and we can talk at my place.'

'No, it can't wait.'

Perplexed, Ron looked up and furrowed his eyebrow. 'Is something wrong, Mione?'

'Please don't ca—' Hermione cut herself off, no point starting the argument over the horrid nickname right now. 'Yes. I was waiting at the pub for over an hour before you remembered that we had made plans for dinner together.'

'I said I was sorry,' Ron replied with confusion.

'Yes, and while I appreciate that, you also said you were sorry and that it wouldn't happen again two times already in the last two weeks. When you forget me, it makes me feel like I'm not important to you.'

'You are! But this is important too!' Ron replied, gesturing to his work.

'I know it's important to you, but I wish I was more important.'

'This work helps so many others and I'm proud of the work I do.'

'You should be proud, but I can't be put to the side so often. My work is also important, but I still remember my other commitments and am where I say on time.'

'Hermione,' Ron groaned.

'No, listen for a moment. I love you, Ron, but I don't feel the passionate spark anymore. And from the way you have been standing me up and a few other things, I think you feel the same way too—'

'I don't! I love you passionately—'

Please don't make this harder Ron, you know deep in your heart it is the right thing for us.

'Okay, but even if you do, I feel otherwise. I can't feel that way and be pushed to the side. I'm ending our relationship, Ron. I don't want to start hating you and lose our friendship as well, so I'm ending us now, before it's too late.'

'No, you can't! I love you! I can do better!'

You have tried and failed to put me first.

'Am I more important than your work?' Hermione asked softly, genuinely curious.

'Well, no, but you are important to me.'

But clearly not important enough.

Hermione gave him a pained smile.

'Goodbye, Ron. Just drop off the things I have at your place on Monday with the Potions Department secretary, I'll do the same with your things. I think we should avoid each other for the next week, just until things settle a little between us – I'll skip the Burrow lunch on Sunday this week.'

Yes, that's the best approach, hopefully by then he will see the logic of this decision; realise it is right.

'No!' Ron ordered, jumping up from his seat as Hermione stood to leave and approaching her quickly.

She eyed him warily, sure he would never hurt her, but he could be thoughtless when he was upset.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a kiss. She didn't respond, keeping her lips closed and standing rigidly. Eventually her ex stopped and rested his forehead on hers.

'Please don't leave me, Mione. I love you.'

'I have to, Ron. This won't work. I don't love you like a lover anymore, and I want that passion. Besides, you said it yourself, your job is more important to you than I am – I could never ask you to give up your job, so I am bowing out. Staying in a relationship like this isn't fair to either of us. I can't love you like you want me to, and you can't love me like I need you too.'

'Don't go,' Ron whispered, his arms loosening.

'Goodbye,' Hermione replied, and stepped away. Backing up a few steps, she turned and left the red-haired man standing dejectedly behind her.

She kept her head high and returned directly to the elevator. As the doors enclosed her into the tiny magical box, she tapped distractedly on the atrium floor button and wiped a tear from her cheek.

Right, this has been coming for a while, and he agreed that his work is more important to him. Time to get rip-roaring drunk.

A.N. - Hope you enjoyed the start! Next chapter should be ready tomorrow.