A/N: Okay… So. I've been on a Dashboard Confessional kick for quite some time lately… again. I just kinda thought it would be interesting to see if I could make a fanfic that goes along with (as best as it can) the lyrics or titles of the beautiful words of one Chris Carrabba. I don't know if it will be any good, but I don't really care. I just like writing.

Disclaimer: I don't own HP or any of the characters. I also don't own the chapter titles, seeing as they are the words of Chris Carrabba and Dashboard Confessional.

Please R&R.

-Kristen


Screaming Infidelities

The streets of Exeter were eerily quiet as the darkness lingered around the small two story home. A single lit candle on the porch was gleaming in the shadows of the roof and surrounding treetops, but it was a symbol that there was some life to the home. Candles shown in the windows as well, casting their gloomy light over the carpeted and hardwood floor of the first story. The fireplace in the living room was dying out, embers slowly cooling and flickering out with the slightest breeze. A chill began to hang over the room, littered with a few tissues here and there and a pair of fuzzy slippers.

This was where the night had found her, sitting alone on the couch, rocking back and forth with a pillow hugged between her chest and knees, tissue held tightly in her hand, eyes red, bushy hair fanned out around her head. To the muggle eye, one would just think her cat had passed away or that her boyfriend had broken up with her. In fact, the latter would be closer.

Just a few days prior, she had arrived home early from work at the Ministry to find her fiancé taking to bed with another witch. To their bed. Paralysis had taken her over immediately and she froze in the doorway, eyes wide, heart breaking. She didn't even hear what he said when his lips began to move, although she was sure it was some sort of excuse to explain what she was seeing. But unfortunately for him, he couldn't exactly use the 'I smell like perfume because I was helping a witch that fell down the stairs' excuse this time.

Before she had realized what was happening, the blonde witch had stumbled out of the bed, clutching the blankets – their blankets – to her chest, and made a feeble attempt at escaping the curses that were flying at her. And the little whore had gotten what she deserved when she was finally taken down by an Impediment Jinx and a rather nasty Stinging Hex.

"Hermione!" he yelled, jumping out of the bed towards and brandishing his wand toward his fiancée. "It's not what it looks like!"

"Oh, let me guess then, Ronald," she spat, advancing a few steps closer as he took a step back. "She was cleaning the room and a button flew off of her blouse, causing her to lose her balance and break a heel as she fell to the bed, grabbing you for support and ripping off your clothing in the process?"

He opened his mouth to speak again, but she didn't want to hear it. "Stupefy!" she cried. He didn't even have time to think about moving before the spell hit him directly in the center of his chest.

Furious, she didn't have any idea what kind of words she could use to express her anger. Teeth clenched, she took the last few steps to close the space between where she stood and where he now laid, sprawled on the ground. "One hour. Get out," she managed to say before turning and storming out of the room.

Without anywhere else to go, she had Apparated to the first place that came to her mind: the Ministy of Magic Atrium. She didn't know exactly why she had thought to go there, but since she was around, she might as well finish out her work day.

Her attempt at work had failed miserably, and quite a few times, she had broken down in tears and been completely unable to breathe. When she finally returned home, Ron was gone, as was the blonde whore he had brought home. Since then, she had spent three days in a ball on the sofa in her living room or in the bathtub surrounded by bubbles, and she had not even considered braving the bedroom to rid it of the filth they had most likely left behind.

In the dark of her living room, Hermione Granger was indeed suffering from heartache at its worst. She had ignored all of the owls from her friends and coworkers that voiced their concern about her situation, and she would've remained successful at this had there not been a knock at her front door.

"Go away!" she yelled through her sobs. But the knocking persisted for several moments before she finally threw the pillow to the side (and into a lamp) and took leave of her indented seat on the cushions. "I said go away!" she was yelling as she approached the door, fully ready and prepared to give whoever was there a good long piece of her mind.

However, the thought immediately fell from her consciousness at the sight of two of her best friends. If was as if someone had flipped a switch. She went from seething and angry to crying in a clump on the floor, two sets of arms wrapped around her in the doorway. The stronger pair lifted her from the ground and took her back to her seat while the smaller pair held her hands and let her cry.

"Hermione?" asked the gentle voice of Luna Lovegood.

"Luna." She had barely heard it, but she knew that Harry Potter was telling his fiancée not to ask any questions at the moment. Harry had seen Hermione suffer a similar, albeit not as hurtful, heartbreak when they attended school together during their sixth year. He knew, almost better than she did, that Hermione would need time. A lot of time.

They sat there in a pile on the couch for quite some time, just allowing her tears to flow freely before she broke the long silence. "Th-thank you. For coming over." The words were choked, but they were filled with gratitude and answered with a strong hug and a light kiss on the forehead.

"Is there anything that you need?" Luna asked quietly, not wanting to upset her, but wanting to help. She didn't speak, but pointed up the stairs to the door at on the other side of the landing, still slightly ajar the way Ron had left it that night. "Have you been in there?" the younger witch questioned.

"No," she replied with a sniffle, sitting up a bit. "I couldn't… couldn't go in there… alone." She clutched at Harry and Luna and forced herself to stand once again with their support.

"We'll go," Harry said quickly. "You can stay here."

"No, Harry. Please, let me go. I need to do this." She didn't wait for a reply, determination set in her eyes. She needed this to get over it. She needed to see the room and feel the disgust for Ron that she had felt that afternoon. She needed it to get over him. She needed it to free herself from the horrors of that day and the pain that she felt because of it.

Up the stairs and on the landing, Hermione hesitated at the door. The darkness inside of the room was taunting her, teasing her, and altogether messing with her mind. She knew that the second she pushed it open, she would be wrapped up by the scent of his cologne, the perfume of a whore, and the gentle scent of the just-cleaned linens that were on the bed. Steeling herself, she reached out and gave the door a gentle push and watched as it swung open smoothly.

Light automatically filled the room, almost blinding her as the candles lit themselves all around the walls. The room looked just as it had when she had last been there, except minus one cheating fiancé and his hooker. The walls were still white. The carpet was still a cheerful light blue. The dresser and night stands were still stained a nice cherry oak. But the bed was ripped apart and the closet door was hanging wide open, a large assortment of clothing missing, and Hermione knew that the dresser was equally as empty.

She took a deep shuddering breath and stepped inside, closely followed by Harry and Luna, who took it upon themselves to check the room for any jinxes or hexes that Ron may have left in retaliation. Hermione, meanwhile, walked straight to the bed, staring down at it as if it would bite her at any given moment. The sheets were messy and the pillows were all over the place, but what caught her eye and held her attention were the slender strands of red hair lying about all over the place. There was a note as well, placed on her pillow.

Gingerly, she reached out and picked it up, unfolding it cautiously, hands shaking.

Hermione,

I love you always and forever.

Ron

Fury raged through her as she stared blankly at the note for just a moment longer before ripping it to shreds. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Harry and Luna, both curiously watching her and she simply took a deep breath.

"He… He had the nerve… the nerve… to leave me a note… saying that… that he loved me." She couldn't hide the pain and hurt in her voice as she leveled her wand with the bed. "Scourgify," she added quietly, trying so hard to keep her mind collected in front of company as she watched stains lift from the sheets and thin hair vanish from the pillows.

Luna's hand landed gently on her shoulder and she smiled at her distraught friend. "What else do you need?" she asked kindly.

Oh, Luna. Where would Hermione be without Luna? The girl was so kindhearted and blissfully ignorant to some things that occasionally it was a nice break from reality. Hermione longed for the kind of innocence that she held.

Shaking her head, she let her eyes fall on the two standing behind her again. "Nothing. I'm alright. I just need to get back to my daily routine and everything will be back to normal." Even as she spoke the words, she knew they were untrue. But, after an hour or so of the usual 'stop by whenever's and 'don't hesitate to owl's, Hermione finally ushered Harry and Luna from the room and out the front door. Tomorrow, she would go to work, as usual, and busy herself with her work. Tomorrow, she would be alright.


Side note: The hurricane is coming. Should be here this afternoon/evening. Kinda excited, not gonna lie. So there may be some addition writings for you. But I must say, I had the best hurricane shopping list at the grocery store. While everyone else was getting the usual toilet paper and paper towels and bread and milk and eggs, I was buying Amp, StarCrunches, chips, and corn on the cob. My list was by far the most exciting.

R&R. Let me know what you think of chapter one. I'll update soon.

PS. Looking for a beta, maybe?