This was originally written as a one-shot before I decided I wanted to carry on with it. I know this chapter's very short, but I have the next few chapters already written and they're quite a bit longer. Review if you like it, don't bother if you don't.

Sitting in the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione was still nursing her first drink, trying to work out how it had come to this. A week ago, she had told Ron that she wasn't prepared to marry him and add another seven Weasley children to the family just yet.

"I want to have a job Ron," she screamed.

"All Weasley women are mothers Hermione," he shouted back. "My mother never had a job, Ginny doesn't have a job, Fleur doesn't have a job, so why should you?"

"I'm not a Weasley woman yet Ron. I've been offered a job in Hogwarts and I intend to accept it."

"Well maybe I don't want to marry you if you're going to do that," Ron retorted quickly.

"Well maybe I don't want to marry you then," she snapped. Her voice softened as she sank into a chair. "It shouldn't be this hard to make these decisions. We should support each other."

Ron turned red and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Not wanting to face Molly Weasley's wrath, Hermione had disapparated soon after, and that was the last she had seen of the Weasleys.

It hadn't been the last time she'd heard of them though. Despite not knowing where she was living, Mrs Weasley and Ginny had sent howlers everywhere.

"How dare you do this to us, after all our family's been through."

"Ron's back with Lavender now, not that you care."

Ginny had even given stories to the wizarding magazines, which had given Hermione a shock the first time she'd walked into Diagon Alley and seen hundreds of pictures of her face staring at her. They weren't the most flattering photos of her either, to make matters worse! So now Hermione was hated by what felt like the whole wizarding world. She probably wasn't far off. You couldn't offend Harry Potter's brother in law and get away with it. What was the point in even going to work at Hogwarts if the pupils weren't going to listen to her and everyone hated her?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a shadow blocking her light. Probably someone else who was offended on Ron's behalf.

"What now?" she snapped.

She looked up and saw a familiar face, who didn't look angry, just confused.

"Neville!" she exclaimed. "Sorry! I thought you'd be another person coming to tell me what a heartless person I am."

"Why?" asked Neville. "What have you done?"

"Oh just offended everyone in the world because I broke up with Ron. How haven't you heard about it?"

"I've been travelling with Luna. Actually," he said, looking down at his drink, "we split up too, but only her father's upset about it so it's not as bad as your breakup."

"But Neville, you and Luna are meant to be together. Everyone in school knew it."

"Everyone said the same about you and Ron too though," Neville replied with a small laugh. "You're joining us in September aren't you? I'm sure I heard Horace mention it. Actually, he doesn't stop talking about it: Brilliant girl, useless at potions, but brilliant at everything else. You're still one of his favourites."

"I was not useless at potions!" Hermione said indignantly.

"I know, I know," Neville said. "He hasn't changed at all though, it's just how he is. You know that."

"Yes," sighed Hermione. "Your impression was dead-on though. I'm impressed," she laughed. "Still," she said, the smile leaving her face, "I don't think I'm going to take the job. All the students, and teachers for that matter, will hate me."

"Come on Hermione," Neville said. "You're a bigger person than that. If you don't take the job, this whole Ron thing will have been for nothing. And besides," he added. "Anyone who gives you a hard time, I'll sort them out. I can be quite a scary professor when I want to be," he said, pulling a strict face.

Hermione laughed. "You're right Neville. I'm sorry; you came in here for a quiet drink and you got me ranting."

"It's alright, I don't mind," Neville replied. "And I'm glad you're coming to Hogwarts. I can show you around."

"Has it changed much then?" she asked.

Neville blushed. "Well, no, not really."

"Well, I'd still like that," Hermione smiled. "It'll be nice to have a friend!"