Everything Falls Apart

Chapter 1: Here Comes the Rain

Author's Note: Late September 2020. Hermione and Ron separate due to Ron's sexuality. Harry comforts his best friend.

Hermione rested her head against the cool glass of the window overlooking the meadow behind the home she had shared with Ron for most of their marriage. Rain lashed at the shutters outside and slid down the surface in front of her eyes, yet went unnoticed. Her thoughts were jumbled; her heart heavy. Yet her eyes were still dry.

"Mione, I am sorry," Ron said as he knelt in front of her. He held her hands gently as his eyes pleaded for her to understand. "I don't know how to make this any better, but I never wanted to hurt you."

She sat on the sofa stunned. Her mouth opening and closing without any words coming out. His admission that he was in love with someone else, someone male, was not what she had expected from this conversation.

"How long?" she finally said, looking into his eyes for the first time since he had stumbled his way through his confession. "How long have you known? How long have you been cheating on me?"

"I, um," Ron started. He took a deep breath in and continued, "Not long. I mean, since school. I've been denying it since sixth year. A couple of blokes after school, before us, but then nothing until a year ago. I'd been faithful to you until then."

She pinched the bridge of her nose. He rubbed his forehead and moved to sit next to her. Neither looked directly at the other.

"We haven't had sex in three years. I guess I should have realized that something was wrong," Hermione said. "I just never thought…oh Ron, did you ever love me?" she cried as she turned to face him.

"Of course I did, Mione. I still do. I just…"Ron's face was streaked with tears.

"You're just in love with someone else," Hermione finished his sentence for him as she often did. "So, what now? What happens now?"

"I don't think you want me to stay here. I thought I'd stay at Seamus's…"

"Seamus? It's Seamus?" Hermione asked incredulously, with a slightly maniacal laugh.

Ron ducked his head and turned bright red. "Yeah…so, other than that, I don't know. However you want to handle things. Telling the kids, the family, legally ending the marriage. Whatever you think is best."

"OK," she nodded. "I think you should just go now. I don't want to talk about this anymore right now."

Hermione felt the beginning of a headache. She felt as if a part of her was standing outside of this whole mess and observing. She could hear the lack of emotion in her voice, even though yet another part of her was screaming inside her brain. She closed her eyes, lay back on the sofa, and turned her back to her husband. "Just go."

She had heard him sigh before leaving the room. She had listened to his footsteps on the second floor as he had packed his bags. He had stopped at the door and just before leaving, he had whispered, "I am truly sorry."

Now, hours later, she was standing at the window but seeing nothing. She still had not cried, nor had she turned on the lights when the sun set and the rain began. She hadn't eaten when dinner time had come. She just stood at the window and watched the rain.

The hearth flared into life and Harry Potter stepped through into the darkened living room. He waited for his eyes to adjust and then called out, "Hermione? You home? Hermione?"

She saw her still standing at the window in the dark. The rain had stopped and the tears had finally come. Harry stepped up behind her and put his arms around her shoulders. She tensed for a second, and then melted into his embrace. Her silent tears turned to sobs that wracked her body.

They stood there for several minutes as fifteen years of uncertainty and disappointment washed through her. She had never felt totally secure in her marriage with Ron, and now she knew why. Emotions held at bay for so long finally found escape and swept through her as Harry held her in his arms and rocked her gently.

"I suppose it is better knowing than not," Hermione said sniffling and offering him a weak smile.

Harry handed her his handkerchief and led her to the kitchen. "You don't have to be brave or strong right now, Hermione. No one's here but you and me." He sat her at the table and turned to the cabinets. "How about some hot chocolate, hmm?"

Hermione nodded as she blew her nose. Harry winced. "You can keep the hanky."

She smiled weakly again. Harry always tried to lift her mood when she was down, usually due to Ron's behavior. She sighed and asked, "How long have you known? And who else knows?"

He placed the steaming mug in front of her and sat down. "I've suspected for a while. I mean, I knew he experimented a bit before you guys finally got together, but then, who didn't. But he told me about a week ago. He asked me how he should tell you. What he should do. I don't think anyone else knows except the three of us and his…"

"Seamus," Hermione said flatly.

"Yeah, Seamus," confirmed Harry.

"You know, we hadn't been intimate in three years. And before that, it was so rare after we had Hugo. I just thought it was the strain of raising a family and working on our careers. But then, Ron and I had never really been passionate. Just comfortable." Hermione sighed and put her head in her hands. "Is there something wrong with me?"

Harry leapt from his chair and enfolded the woman who had been a sister to him for more years than he could remember. "No, Mione! There's nothing wrong with you. Ron's just finding himself finally. I wish I could make it hurt less. You are wonderful and special and… and… Ron should've figured out what he wanted a long damn time ago. Ginny is going to hex him six ways to Friday when she finds out."

"I just…nothing is what I expected it to be. Nothing is what I wanted it to be." Hermione sobbed into Harry's shoulder. After a few minutes, she gasped, "Oh gods! What are we going to tell the kids?"

Harry smoothed her hair. "The truth. You know they deserve nothing less. That's how you've raised them." He wiped her eyes with the handkerchief and stood up, bringing her with him. "Now, let's get you an overnight bag packed. You are staying with Ginny and me tonight… not alone."