AN: So, Hi :) I'm the new kid..or well young adult I guess.. and while I've been an avid FF reader for many years this is the first time I've ever published one. The worst that could happen now is that I get a terrible response, I delete everything, and just go back to reading. I'm good at the reading. If you see any misspelling and other errors let me know and I'll fix 'em because we all know spell check isn't very reliable. However, I'd like to think I'm a decent enough writer to avoid anything major.

Disclaimer: I own nothing that has generated billions for Rowling.

I have always found it funny that you never notice the little changes around you until life really slaps you in the face. I guess everyone needs a wake up call when they are on a path that fate deems unacceptable. We make excuses to help make up for the missed dates, late nights, or unreturned phone calls. You think that things will get better and you try a little harder, act a little sweeter, and dress a little sexier. Then life realizes how stupid you're being and provides the perfect opportunity for you to make a real change before it's too late.

There was a slight breeze blowing from the east carrying with it the smell of the bakery down the way. The streets were slightly crowded with men and women heading home from work and couples for a before dinner stroll as the time was close to 6:00 P.M. Hermione sat in the wrought iron chair angled away from the street sipping her caramel mocha latte, but still with a clear view across to the busy restaurant. She had been sitting in that very seat for about half an hour as instructed from the owl post earlier that morning. Following instructions from an anonymously written owl post may seem like a bad idea, especially for someone who still hears Moody repeating "Constant Vigilance!" in the back of her mind. However, the signs had been there for months…even the anonymous owls had been showing up at the flat for the last few weeks. This was her opportunity to finally make a life changing decision and if it turned out to be a fluke well she would go straight home, forget this ever happened, and figure something out. She had a feeling this wasn't a fluke. She released a deep sigh as she reached forward to set the cup in the saucer and grabbed her book from off the table. Leaning back in her chair and looking over the top of the book she scanned the street looking for the person and cause for the eerie calm Hermione felt. She recognized the woman before the man. Who could forget that pug look and black hair? Honestly, you would think 5 years was long enough for someone to grow into their looks and yet it never happened for poor 'ol Pansy Parkinson. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut silently praying she was wrong but the sound of that whiny voice pronouncing his name confirmed her suspicions. Her boyfriend of the last two years was willingly holding hands and being lead towards the trendy restaurant by Pansy Parkinson. Hermione watched as the couple approached the hostess, informed her of their arrival, and they were lead through the glass door to no doubt a secluded table for two. She leaned forward and rested her head in her hands, massaging her temples while mentally preparing herself for the next steps she needed to take. A few deep breaths and mental pep talks later Hermione stored her book in her bag and placed 4 sickles beside the cup. Shouldering her bag, she walked towards the alley and disapparated.

Hermione was laid flat on her back right in the middle of the now sparse living room. Her hands splayed over the soft fabric of a rug that would soon be shrunken down to be stored with the rest of her belongings in the old trunk by the door. She fought back the burning lump that was beginning to form in her throat and the tears that began to well up, clenching her hands into fists she felt her nails bite into the skin. Now is not the time dammit! Just get through this and back to your parents, and then you can have your panic attack and take all the time you need.

The sound of heavy footsteps outside the door jerked her awake. Suddenly alert she rolled over and stood,then with a quick nonverbal spell shrinking the rug she pocketed it in her traveling cloak. She shifted her feet trying to remain as confident as she could, no turning back now. The lock clicking open and the slight whine of the door had her straightening her back and lifting her chin as she readied herself to face down the one man she thought would never hurt her like this. She almost wanted to laugh at the sight of him trying to be quiet; oh you cheating sod, you're gonna make this real easy for me aren't you? Hermione heaved a deep sigh and watched as the man in front of her stiffen the only sound coming from the keys hitting the glass dish on the stand by the coat rack. "Well Ronald, we can either do this the hard way or the easy way, however at this point I have a feeling it will all be pretty easy for you…a relief even?," Hermione said without even a hitch in her voice. Ron Weasley slowly turned around and stared at the eerily calm Hermione Granger in front of him with her arms crossed over her chest and head held high.

"Now, 'Mione," Ron stammered, "let's not doing anything rash." Hermione snorted, "Rash? If I had wanted to be rash Ronald I would have marched right on over to the restaurant I watched you and Pansy Parkinson walk hand in hand into and done something extremely rash. Rash would have been me pulling that skank right out of the door by her hair and hexing you so that you would be incapable of providing your mother with any future grandchildren!" Taking a calming breath she continued, "what would be the point anymore, Ron?"

Tears started to form in her eyes and sting; she blinked them away quickly. By this point Ron had come closer, with the faint glow of the lone lamp sitting on the floor she could see that his ears and cheeks were red and tears had already fallen down his face. Uncomfortable under her stare Ron looked down and mumbled, "I've been wanting to tell you but I could never find the right time…" a slight pause told her he wasn't done and she waited for the rest. He looked at her then and started to say something a few times only to shake his head and try to start over again.

Ron squared his shoulders and began "I tried ya know? Not with loving you because that's the easy part, I truly love you, always have…you know that. I tried to be that person worthy of you. I know you don't think I'm stupid or not worth it but I can't bring myself to believe that I deserve you. I thought when we waited after the battle, when everything finally felt like it was settling down, to become a couple I had moved beyond those insecure feelings."

After everything that was going on Hermione still had this urge to reach out and comfort him, they were friends first after all. Wringing her hands together to fight back the need to tell him it was ok she confronted him further, "Ron, why didn't you just tell me? After everything we have been through didn't you think I deserved to know…that we both deserved the honesty?' she asked in desperation to find some answers. He answered by shrugging and saying, "You're right, of course," smiling a little, "you especially deserve the best along with honesty and I'm sorry, so incredibly sorry, I put you through this… I guess I was kinda hoping you would find out or just get tired of me never being around and make the decision for both of us. I just couldn't bring myself to confront you about it."

Hermione shook her head, "that isn't a very solid answer Ron, but I can understand a little bit I guess. I could have ended it a few times so I can't blame you entirely but sneaking around with Parkinson? Really Ronald? That really hurt…" She could tell her voice was about to crack, the burning sensation beginning to settle in her throat, " we've been friends for so long I can't imagine being angry at you forever, but you're going to have to give me some time before we can really sit down and have a proper conversation. I'm tired and honestly on the verge of a mental break down…I..I've shrunk down all that's mine and I'm going to stay with my parents for a while. The lease to the flat is on the table for you to sign if you want the place to yourself or you can forfeit and stay with Harry or…well, whoever."

Ron nodded at her and she walked forward and paused beside him, putting a hand on his arm and giving him a light squeeze, "I don't hate you Ron, you're just not my favorite person right now. You can tell people it was a mutual decision but can you do me a favor?" Ron turned his head toward her nodding, "anything, anything at all," he readily agreed. Hermione looked him straight in the eye and pleaded, "if this thing you have with Parkinson is serious or has the potential to be…can you wait a few months before you both go public?"

Ron looked at her with an odd look, "Hermione I..." Hermione squeezed his arm tighter, "No! I don't want an explanation or details just promise me, please?" He looked down then and only nodded. Hermione let go of Ron's arm and walked toward the door stopping only to retrieve her trunk from the floor. Shrinking the trunk to the appropriate size, she stuck it in her cloak pocket along with the rug and without looking back; she walked out the door into the hallway and disapparated.

Hermione landed in the back yard of her parent's house, walking forward she felt the coolness of passing through the protective wards she put up after she brought her parents back from Australia. She inhaled the heavy autumn air mingled with the flowers from her mother's garden and gave a sad smile, I haven't been visiting enough. After walking through the back door and quietly closing it back, she glanced at the clock on the wall, 3:00 A.M. oh they'll definitely be asleep. Rummaging through the junk drawer in the kitchen, she found a scrap paper and a pen then quickly wrote a note out for her parents, letting them know she would be in her room, and please not wake her up before 10:00 A.M. She continued through the kitchen into the living room. Stopping at the base of the stairs to take off her shoes and set them to the side she padded up the wooden staircase as quietly as she could. Walking by a few doors she finally reached her room and taking a sigh of relief she walked into her childhood room. Shedding her traveling cloak and laying it gently over the small reading chair in the corner of her room, she turned to her dresser and located her favorite Gryffindor sleeping shirt. Hermione dragged her body to the connected bathroom to relieve herself, wash the day away from her face, and brush her teeth. With the last bit of strength, she changed into her sleep shirt and finally made it to her bed. She reached down to pull the knitted afghan Mrs. Weasley had given her a few years ago over her body and sank down into her bed. Only then when she was snuggled against her favorite stuffed animal, a blue Crookshanks look-alike, did she allow the burning in her throat and around her heart to consume her and the tears to fall freely down her face.

Sooo...how'd I do for my first time? reviews are greatly appreciated :) If ya don't like it that's cool...you don't know me, I don't know you. No harm no foul :) It's almost 4 A.M. now and I haven't stayed up this late since I had to write a paper for Constitutional Law so hope whoever makes it this far down has a great day. See ya!