Disclaimer - JK Rowling owns Harry Potter etc - please don't sue me!

This is a prequel story to 'Surprise'.

Thanks as always to my awesome beta reader NJ Coffee Queen!

In May I had a look at this chapter and made some edits: while I have split the old chapter one into a preamble and smaller chapter one, the plot has not changed.

Preamble

The war had ended in a battle that had ravaged magical Britain.

Albus Dumbledore had appeared from hiding (to the delight of Harry Potter, who had thought Professor Snape had murdered the old headmaster), explaining it as his masterful plan to save Draco Malfoy and recover from the curse decimating his hand. It was a plan he executed with Snape and Draco Malfoy, and it allowed the Order of the Phoenix to gain control of the battle in the confusion of his formidable arrival.

Albus also announced to his faithful followers that the Malfoy family had been spies for the Order of the Phoenix during the final two years of the war: with Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy having turned from Voldemort when he forced their son to join the Death Eaters as punishment for Lucius's failure in the Department of Mysteries.

In the aftermath of the final battle, Hermione Granger had joyously accepted Ron Weasley's promises of comfort, support, and love, and the two had started dating: as had Ginny Weasley and Harry. The former pair's partnership was often tested by Ron, who didn't like it when other wizards vied for Hermione's attention: a frequent occurrence as wizards circled her like vultures hoping to date the war heroine for their five minutes of fame.

Hermione repeatedly declared to her boyfriend that she had always been and would always be faithful to her partner, to which he would always respond with: 'Then how about we start a family and show them your commitment to me?'

This response made Hermione tingle with unease as panic clogged her throat. She would explain to Ron that she was resolved to not even start thinking about having children until she was in her late twenties. It was an answer that always caused her boyfriend to scowl and sulk.

Despite the attempted hangers-on and Ron's occasional declarations about the need to start a family, Hermione's life was perfect and she was full of life: living in the triumph of victory, being in love, and with the world at her feet.

They were occupied for weeks making appearances at celebrations and, while Hermione had quickly grown tired of the outings and press, she was keen to enjoy the feelings of happiness and relief overflowing at all the events.

Reality eventually set back in as the hype dissipated and she soon discovered that if things seem to be too good to be true, they probably are.

It soon became very apparent just how much so many had lost; friends, family, homes, and businesses had been traded in for horrific physical and mental injuries. While the entire Weasley family had survived, they were one of the few. The death toll was finally announced and it was high. Very high.

Tensions among the survivors quickly began to rise: due to remanent feelings from the war, competition to survive, and plain stubborn or immature antics. It was common to hear verbal abuse in the streets of Diagon Alley, to see broken businesses closing down, and to notice neglected orphans on the streets.

Fast-tracked war trials started absorbing much of her spare time, as she was repeatedly summoned as a witness.

The charges and convictions became a blur in her mind, and she wondered how the court officials were able to keep the cases separate in their heads. She was never questioned by a defence lawyer, which surprised her; but then again, as Harry had pointed out to her, processes were so different in the wizarding world that perhaps it was the normal process. She sometimes got a niggling feeling of worry at this seeming lack of due process and representation; a situation which she thought could be a petri dish for blooming corruption in greedy hands.

She was definitely surprised when she learnt some of the verdicts from The Daily Prophet announcements, most particularly the condemnation of Lucius Malfoy. The wizard was sentenced to life in prison, despite being a spy for two years and contributing to significant wins for the light.

Lucius' son and wife had left Britain, presumably having being cleared of charges. Having never been required as a witness to trials for Narcissa or Draco, Hermione readily accepted they must have been released immediately.

After the trials were concluded, Hermione finally had time to think about what she wanted to achieve in her life. All those who should have graduated in her school year were given honorary NEWT certificates based on their OWLs. Hermione had been somewhat disappointed by the E that she was awarded for Defence against the Dark Arts, especially given she had just helped defeat a Dark Lord, however she managed to shrug it off…eventually.

She eventually decided that she wanted to work for the Ministry, to try and help put magical England back together and make it the glorious magical hub it was when she was first introduced to the world at the tender age of eleven.

She was disappointed to find that when she applied for jobs, she was met with blockade after blockade; something she had definitely not expected. While she didn't have a huge ego, she was a famous war heroine and labelled as the 'smartest witch in a generation'. When she asked, 'why didn't I get the job?' she received the frustrating response, 'the other candidates have more experience than you.'

She quickly redirected her exasperation at this response into determination to achieve the necessary experience. She worked as a volunteer and studied even more than she had at school (except perhaps during her third year); it was an exhausting workload.

It was another few months before a snooty interviewer had responded with: 'Well, apart from your obvious lack of experience in this world, inability to understand the issues, and glory‑hungry desperation, I wouldn't waste the time training you so that you can take an indefinite leave of absence at the Ministry's expense to raise a hoard of little brats'. It was at that point which she realised that all the blockades were from a mixture of dislike of her (given what she had accomplished in the war and the resulting losses for others who had been sympathetic to Voldemort) or due to her meddling boyfriend, Ron.

Apparently, he had been visiting her future employers and feeding them false information. First, he would say that he planned to marry her soon and she would not be working after that; too busy raising his children and being a traditional wife. And when that did not work, he began saying she was not loyal, having abandoned Harry during the war (that was Ron, thank you very much, she had thought) and was under investigation by the Auror Department for giving secrets to the Dark Lord's side (ridiculous).

Either way, he had gotten what he wanted: a girlfriend with no job who had to rely on him for - what he hoped - would be companionship and support.

Well, he almost did.

He had forgotten that she still had muggle friends and a sizable bank account from smart investments during her time at Hogwarts: her parents having taught her how to invest money properly.

Hermione had always been independent and the lack of work infuriated her. Add to that Ron's lying and sneaking part in her lack of job… well, she was less than impressed.

Hermione knew she had to face him, but first she intended to complete her research. She searched until she found absolute proof for his selfish deceit... it was disappointingly easy to find.

Now that she had the information, she needed to use it. The question was, how is it best to resolve this untenable situation?

Chapter 1 - Ron is a twat

Today is the day. I have all the information and I will confront him and set him straight on just how unacceptable his actions have been. I deserve to know what he was thinking, what his explanation is. I can't be afraid of what will happen. Today is the day.

Hermione sat on the sofa as she waited for Ron to come home, foot tapping on the floor.

All her proof of his actions - documents and pictures – was spread across the coffee table in front of her.

She breathed in the steam rising above her cup of tea that was delicately perched in her hand. She drained the hot substance in one gulp, eager to get the benefits of the Calming Potion she had added. Another laced cup of tea was waiting for Ron: as he had unfortunately inherited the infamous Weasley short-temper.

She heard the door hit the wall with a loud thud and then Ron's loud voice sounded through the house, 'Mione, you here?'

Sighing at the nickname, she called back, 'In the lounge room, Ron. Can you please join me?'

She heard him rummaging in the kitchen before he appeared in front of her, a bottle of pumpkin beer in hand.

'Nothing's cooked, Mione. Are you ordering take-away?'

'Dinner will have to wait, there is an important discussion that we need to have.'

In truth, Hermione hadn't completely trusted herself to cook without spiking his meal with something in retaliation for the job sabotage.

'Mione, I work hard every day,' Ron said in a whiney tone, 'the least you could do to help out is have dinner ready when I get home.'

Hermione flushed at the dig about her lack of employment. Willing the rising anger back down, she simply said, 'I've made you a cup of tea, it has a Calming Potion in it. I think you should drink some so we can have a conversation.'

'Tea? Nah, I'll drink my pumpkin beer. So what do you wanna talk about? Are you gonna finally give up looking for work?'

'I do not want to give up looking for work, but it is work I want to talk about,' Hermione replied, eyeing Ron's quickly disappearing beer and wishing he had drunk the tea instead of the depressant.

'I've had a long day, Mione -'

'I've asked you not to call me that,' Hermione cringed.

'Well, it's my name for you. Only I call you that and no one else. It works as it sounds like 'my own', which is what you are, and I'm not changing the pet name.'

'You don't own me, Ron.' Hermione frowned, having never made that connection before: she just thought Ron was being his usual lazy self by shortening her name.

'Yes, I do. You're mine. I'm the only one who would date an unemployed frump like you!'

'I'm only unemployed because of you, you selfish idiot,' Hermione retorted, hurt and betrayal lacing her voice.

'What're you talking about?' he asked in a patronising tone.

Hermione took a deep breath and held it for three counts, then released it slowly. It did nothing to reduce the anger coursing through her veins at Ron's nasty accusations.

'I'm talking about this,' she said, pointing to the documents and photos in front of her. 'You sabotaging my job interviews with lies.'

'I never lied, Mione.'

'Oh, so I suppose I was the coward that left Harry alone in the woods during the Horcrux hunt? Oh wait, sorry, that was you that ran off with your tail between your legs.'

'Of course you did,' Ron growled, his ears turning red.

'Merlin, you're pathetic: putting your own failings on me. Why?'

'You should take that on yourself. You should be supporting me, not wondering around with your know-it-all nose in the air when it's not in a damned stupid, gigantic book.'

'Supporting you,' Hermione replied, voice rising in pitch along with her eyebrow. 'Supporting you is not covering for you at my expense. Supporting is standing by you while you face the music. Wanting me to cover for you just shows me how little you care for me. Heaven forbid the reporters leave you alone for a day.' Hermione rolled her eyes in remembrance of Ron's scrapbook with all the press articles exulting over his heroism and courage.

'No, you would admit it, if you loved me.'

What? He can't really believe shockingly stupid statement, can he? Hermione paused for a moment, trying to regather her wits.

'Don't try to put this on me when you were the one who left. I have nothing to admit. They are your actions to live with. Stop the lies and takes some responsibility for once in your life,' she said with mild disgust.

'You're wrong, and you should feel ashamed of yourself!' Ron snapped loudly, throwing his arms in the air and pacing back and forth.

Hermione snarled at his continued attempts to manipulate her for his benefit.

This conversation is not going how I had hoped. Ron is most definitely not the man I thought he was, and that the sabotage had been thoroughly premeditated! He is just a boy: a cruel, selfish, and manipulative boy. That does it. I clearly need to get away from him and this relationship. Forever, she thought.

'I do not appreciate your attempts to manipulate me, nor do I appreciate your lies. I'm not a traitor, I never left Harry, and I most certainly would not have given up my job to raise a Quidditch team of red-haired children.'

'That's right, you never left Harry because you're in love with him! You're just trying to get me and Ginny out of the way so you can get your spiteful claws into him! And I don't care what you appreciate, you frigid cow. You are a waste of space and no one else will ever want a boring, dull bitch like you. I'm your only option, so you had best learn to respect your betters.'

His bitter words were like a crucio to her heart.

'Firstly, I love Harry like a brother and have absolutely no desire for a romantic relationship with him. Secondly, I would rather be on my own than stay with you!' she bit back coldly.

'Well, too bad, Mione. I'm not letting you go. Now, to make up for your horrid behaviour, I insist you change into something more appealing. At least your clothes could be nice, since you are so disgusting to look at, and cook me dinner. And this time perhaps you can make the sex this evening good. Merlin knows you're terrible at it!'

Hermione scoffed at him. Have I entered the Twilight Zone? 'Are you out of your mind? I'm not doing anything you say.'

'You will, Mione, and those children will be brought up to be proper traditional wizarding adults, unlike you. In fact, I picked up a Fertility Potion –'

'WHAT!'

'- from Mum on the way home, she says I'm right and we need to start our family now, and you must give up all thoughts of working while raising children. You can't be a good mother and work, it just shows what an unloving person you are.'

'How dare you say I have to give up work to be a good, loving mother! Are you an idiot? Oh wait, you are. One day, a long time from now, I will be a great mother while raising children with my loving husband: someone who will be vastly different from you.'

'I'm a loving man, you forsaken know-it-all! Merlin, what I have had to put up with you: always trying to show you're smarter than me, always contradicting me… Well, I beat you at chess every time we play, so that shows you who is truly smarter.'

'I have always been supportive, never have I put you down—'

'Yes, you do: "Ron, do you want a hand?" "Ron, you need to do the wand movement like this." Always saying how I'm wrong.'

'I was trying to support you and help you do those basic wand movements required in your Auror training, so you are not always the last in your class to be able to perform them.'

'Well, you can stop now. I don't need a stuck-up all-knowing wife.'

'Well, that's just grand, because you won't be getting one.'

'Good, it's about time you changed into a quiet, biddable wife. And you'd better improve your wand spells for adjusting clothing from that conservative crap,' he said, waving his hand towards her. 'I'm not wasting any more money on you.'

'You misunderstand me, Ronald. Find someone else to date. I'm leaving. We. Are. Over,' she said in a cut-glass tone as she stood up abruptly.

'Don't be stupid, you prude. Didn't you hear me before? I'm the only one who will have you. I've put up with you for six months. It has been hell being with you, and I'm not wasting all that effort to have you walk away from me now.'

Feeling dizzy from the whirling argument and hurt to the point she felt shattered, her voice was laced with sarcasm and venom as she drawled the only response she could, 'Well, I am so very sorry you had to go through that, it must have been truly horrific for you. I'll make it easy for you. Goodbye and good riddance, Ronald Weasley.' She spun on her heal and stormed towards the doorway.

'You can't do that,' Ron snarled, grabbing her hand and pulling out a tacky ring. 'I bought this ring and Mum expects us to marry. Now put it on so we can tell everyone we are engaged.'

Utter disbelief washed over her. He still doesn't understand. He's thicker than I thought! How could he think that after everything he had said and done, I would spend my life to him? In a dazed state, she shook her head. 'No.'

Hermione then pulled her wrist from his grasp and headed into the bedroom, warding the door closed behind her.

Ron began pounding on the door. 'I demand you let me into my bedroom!'

With a sweeping wave of her wand, she packed her books, trinkets, and memories. Another wand movement saw everything given to her by Ron and all her clothes vanished; they were all laced with memories of Ron, and she didn't want to keep anything linked to dating him.

Glancing around the room, she tried to find Crookshanks. Kneeling on the scratchy carpet, she glanced under the bed and saw two gleaming eyes watching her.

'Come on, Crookshanks, please come out.'

Hiss.

'I'm leaving Ron, so need you to come out so I never have to see him again.'

Meow.

'That's right, away from the ginger oaf who forgets to feed you. You'll never go hungry again.'

Purr.

Crookshanks stalked out from under the bed, nose and tail high as he looked around the room.

Hermione cast an impenetrable charm around herself - so Ron would not be able to touch her - and then shrunk her trunk and place it in her pocket, before lifting her heavy cat into her arms and storming back through the door. She whooshed passed Ron, determined to get outside the apparition wards as soon as possible.

'OI, STOP, MIONE!' Ron shouted as he tried to grab her.

'Hey, what did you do?' Ron snapped as the charm pushed him back forcefully, he continued to chase her into the garden. 'I demand you accept my offer of marriage. You could, after all, be pregnant already. I've been slipping you Fertility Potion for a week.'

Hermione shot him a venomous look. 'How dare you attempt such a thing when I repeatedly said I don't want children yet, you selfish, little troll,' she hissed before flicking her wand at him and sending a cluster of giant spider crabs after him. As he ran away screaming, she shouted, 'Just so you know, I've been letting you win our chess games for three years. It is, after all, the only thing you're mildly good at!'

She stepped out of the wards and apparated into Diagon Alley.

.*.

A quick visit to Gringotts had her bank account closed before she left through the Leaky Cauldron and took a black cab to the airport.

With no more war trials, no job and no boyfriend, she was going to find her parents in Australia.

While at the airport she wrote to Ginny and her other friends:

Dear …,

I'm sorry to say goodbye like this, however Ron and I have broken up and I find that now is the opportune time to start searching for my parents in Australia. I've put this search off for far too long and I miss them both terribly.

After I find them, I might travel for a while. I'm unsure when I'll be back, but I'll let you know when I am. If you are ever in Australia let me know, I would love to see you: an owl will be able to find me.

Take care of yourself and good luck with everything.

Please keep in touch. I'll miss you!

Love always

Hermione

To Harry's, she added an additional paragraph:

Ron and I had a bad fight before I left and I sent a cluster of spider crabs after him for something he did (I won't tell you what, as I don't want to come between the two of you) but you had best go and save him. I daresay he has forgotten that a simple spell can disappear creatures created by a spell.

She posted the mail and then purchased a ticket for the next plane to Australia. It was only then that she realised that Crookshanks was in her arms. How am I going to get Crookshanks on the plane with me? She wondered. Of course!

Hermione ducked into the bathroom with Crookshanks and started to cast spells on some parchment. Soon she had official looking documents allowing Crookshanks on the plane and into Australia.

She paused as she looked at the cat, worrying her lip between her teeth. 'Sorry, Crooks, I really need to cast some spells on you too.'

Crookshanks meowed.

Hermione took that as permission and cast her charms to clean him and ensure he wasn't carrying any diseases. It was something she did fairly regular, given his tendency to disappear for days on end.

She then picked him back up and tucked the new documents into her jacket pocket, before striding through to the customs and security checkpoints.

.*.

Her plane wasn't scheduled to leave for another three hours, and as she sat in the airport lounge watching the planes taking off and landing, she allowed the last few months to wash over her. Tears started to trickle down her cheeks, slowly at first before they turned into a steady stream and she began to hiccup. Crookshanks nudged her hand lightly with his cool nose.

'Oh darling, what's wrong?' came an elderly voice from beside her.

Hermione jumped slightly and looked up. Through the blur of salty water, she saw a round, older lady with a concerned look on her face. At the expression, Hermione just dissolved into her misery even further. The lady sat down and held her tightly.

'It's okay, my dear, you just let it out,' she whispered as she rubbed Hermione's back.

Hermione then explained everything, careful to keep it Muggle-friendly. She began by saying that she had been a soldier in a situation and had joined covert operations, been captured and tortured, come home to parties and testified in military courts, which she thought might be corrupt. Her failure to get a job to help people. Then she told the lady about Ron's lies, manipulations, attempts to trick her into becoming pregnant, cruel comments, and inflexible expectations. As she talked, a sense of relief swept over Hermione and she began to calm down.

'You're well rid of him, dear girl, and you are far too young for all of that. See the world first, experience its joys, and find out who you truly are. That's what I did and I have never regretted it. It's time to be adventurous and bold.'

Hermione offered the lady a wobbly smile, and the lady grinned in return.

'Now, how about you come and have a cuppa with me, my dear. Tea will help. We might even Irish it up for you.'

Hermione spent the rest of the time waiting for her flight with the lady, talking about the lady's experiences; she had done and seen amazing beautiful things.

Leaving each other with a hug and a wave, the kindly old lady had given Hermione back some faith in the good of people, and now she was ready to find her own path... as soon as she found her parents.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed the preamble and chapter one (when I next edit the whole story these will be separated, but I don't want to change the numbering in case anyone becomes confused). Reviews are a life force and constructive feedback is always much desired - so pretty please leave a review.