Harry Potter sat down on the sofa in his living room with the Daily Prophet. He put his feet up and flipped the magical newspaper open. It'd been a long week at the Ministry, and this weekend he wanted nothing more than to relax with his family. Finally.
Harry's calm mood was rudely interrupted by the shouting that was coming from upstairs. He swore his children did this on purpose. They always waited until he cam home to start bickering. The noise was getting louder and then the stomping started. Harry had a feeling his youngest child and only girl, Lily, was on her way down the stairs with news about the trouble James has caused her now.
"Daddy!"
Right on cue.
The ten year old yelled, flying at lightning speed down the steps. Much like her mother, Lily's red hair always looked like it was on fire when she was upset. She crossed her arms and stormed over to her father.
Despite the headache his kids constantly gave them with their arguing, Harry's face always brightened when he saw them, especially his little Lily. She looked so much like Ginny, it was almost uncanny.
"James is teasing again. He says I will be in Slytherin next year!" Lily's eyes were as big as remembralls and full of fear. She hopped up on Harry's lap and put her head on his chest. She'd heard many stories about Slytherin from James and Albus. They made sure their little sister knew it was the house every witch and wizard with decent values stayed far away from. And yet, they poking fun.
"Imagine that," Lily continued. Me in Slytherin! The very thought gives me nightmares, Daddy. Just think what Uncle Ron would say!"
Harry gave a deep laugh. Lily tended to be overdramatic at times. "Lily," Harry started. "James did the exact same thing to Albus last year."
Lily gave him a look. "But Albus is in Gryffindor now. What about me?"
Harry sighed. Everyone was so wrapped up in the sorting, but Harry knew whatever House the hat chose would be a good one for Lily. It didn't make mistakes.
"Whatever House the Sorting Hat puts you in, your mother and I will still love you…and so will Uncle Ron." Harry added as an afterthought.
Lily nodded sadly, still not very convinced. She dropped her head on Harry again, like dead weight.
Harry smiled to himself and glanced around the living area. The house seemed a bit empty. Now that James and Lily had stopped going at each other's throats, it was also quiet.
"Where's mum?" Harry asked. Lily dramatically smacked her hand to her head. "Oh! She told me to tell you she went to Diagon Alley. And she'll be back s-" Lily was cut off by a rapid knocking on the door.
Harry picked Lily up off of his lap and sat her in the chair in his place. He hadn't been expecting anyone tonight.
"Stay there." He said. Lily nodded, folding her legs in the oversized chair.
Harry walked up to the door and squinted through the small hole in the center of the door.
When he saw who it was, Harry quickly unlatched the door. He came face to face with his best friend, and sister-in-law, Hermione. She looked completely broken. Her face lacked its usual color and her eyes were red. She also had Rose and Hugo with her.
"Hey, Uncle Harry" They both mumbled at the same time. Rose and Hugo looked so upset that Harry's heart ached. He pulled both of them into his embrace. Rose's bushy reddish brown curls looked unruly and Hugo was in desperate need of a haircut. His red hair fell wouldn't stay out of his face.
Behind them, Lily excitedly hopped off the couch and ran to the door.
"Hi, Aunt Hermione." Lily said, giving Hermione a quick hug. "Hi Hugo!"
Then, without acknowledging Rose's long face, Lily hugged her tight and kissed her cheek. Then she grabbed her hand, pulling her in the opposite direction.
"C'mon, Rose. Let's go! I have something to show you." Lily dragged her cousin off in the direction of the stairs and Hugo looked at Harry with sad eyes. His sister always forgot about him whenever the two of them were around Lily.
Harry smiled at him and nodded his head in the direction that the girls disappeared.
"Why don't you go see what James and Albus are up to?" He suggested. Hugo nodded and walked out of the foyer to the stairs.
After Hugo was out of sight, Harry turned back to Hermione. "Tea?"
"I'd like that."
Hermione walked inside and sat down on the couch in front of the fireplace while Harry went to the kitchen. There was a shelf on top of the fireplace lined with family pictures: James, Albus, and Lily's Muggle school pictures were in the middle. There were several of Harry and Ginny with their kids, and one of Ginny and Lily on the end. On the other end of the mantel was a picture of Hermione and Ron on their wedding day. At the sight of this, Hermione dropped her head in her lap and her shoulders began to shake.
Harry returned with a two cups. He set them down on the table and muttered a small incantation. The cups heated instantly. Harry picked up his steaming cup, but Hermione didn't move.
"Hermione," He began gently. She didn't respond, just continued to cry. Her normally bushy brown hair was bone straight now. It was in a ponytail that hung over her shoulder and Harry had to move it out the way to rub her back. He waited for her to respond.
Harry heard someone barreling down the stairs. "Hey dad," James said coming into view. Harry gave him a look.
"Is it okay if-" James stopped mid-sentence when he noticed his aunt crying. "Umm…I'll just come back later." He said. Harry nodded at him, mouthing 'good idea.' James gave him the thumbs up and ran back up the stairs. Harry didn't even have the heart to remind him not to run.
As soon as James was out of sight a loud pop shattered the semi-quiet house. Ginny appeared with a couple of brown bags in her hand. Hermione didn't even look up with all the commotion going on, and Harry continued to rub her back. Ginny set the bags on the ground and ran over to Harry and Hermione.
What happened? Ginny mouthed to Harry, sitting on Hermione's other side. Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"She brought Rose and Hugo too. They're upstairs."
Hermione's sobs began to subside and she lifted her head up slowly.
"Accio tissue." A nearby tissue box flew into Ginny's hands and she pulled a few out and handed them to Hermione.
"I'm so sorry for just showing up like this . I didn't know where else to go to, though," Hermione said. "And your parents are out of town." She added to Ginny. Hermione looked awful. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her mascara was a bit smeared. Ginny could take one look at her and tell she hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in a long time.
Ginny shook her head. "Hermione it's okay. You're not a bother. Just tell us what happened." Ginny took Hermione's hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "We're here for you."
Harry nodded. "Did something happen to Ron?" He asked. Hermione gave a small sarcastic laugh.
"Oh no. He's fine. Trust me." Hermione said. She looked up at her and Ron's wedding picture again and sighed. "We've just…we haven't gotten along lately. In a long time, actually. And-" Her voice caught in her throat and she shook her head, unable to continue.
Ginny took over rubbing Hermione's back this time. In all the years Ron and Hermione had been married, not once did she suspect them of having marital problems. They always seemed so…happy. She supposed all married people fought, though. After all, she and Harry did sometimes, but this was the first time she'd heard about Hermione and Ron having problems.
"Hermione, it's okay," Ginny said, looking at her sister-in-law, her best friend. "Married couples argue. It's just what we do. It comes with the territory." She half laughed.
Hermione shook her head, disagreeing with Ginny. Her eyes began to fill with tears again.
"It's not like that, Ginny," Hermione said. Harry looked at Ginny over Hermione's head with a puzzled expression on his face. "We fight…all of the time." At that moment Hermione forgot about her dignity and she began to cry again.
"It's just…little things now. We can't have a decent conversation anymore without ending up in an argument. And when we're not fighting, we're just silent."
Harry and Ginny were at a lost for words. They both glanced at Hermione and Ron's picture. Hermione looked beautiful in her wedding dress. She was already about a month pregnant with Rose at the time, but wasn't even showing. A baby on the way wasn't the reason they'd decided to tie the knot, though. Ron may as well have proposed to Hermione the first time he'd met her on the Hogwarts Express when they were eleven years old. When Ron did finally propose, Hermione had asked Ginny to be her maid of honor, and Ginny obliged without thinking twice. She made sure Hermione had the most memorable day of her life. Hermione had done the same when Ginny and Harry got married.
Harry smiled to himself as he recalled helping Ron prepare for the events leading up to the wedding. He'd been Ron's right hand man and remembered Ron about to vomit in the dressing room.
"Mate, it's going to be alright," Harry said to Ron, who was pacing back and forth across the floor. "Calm down before you wear a hole into the bloody floor."
Ron stopped pacing to look at Harry. "Calm down?" Ron said. "Harry, I'm running on nerves right now and nothing else. If I stop, I'll vomit…or pass out." Ron added thoughtfully.
Harry laughed. "Ron, you're marrying the girl of your dreams! Nothing else matters. You and Hermione are going to be so happy together," Harry promised. "Just go out there, block everyone out, and say 'I do.'" Harry got up from his chair and clapped Ron on the shoulder. "Relax, and I'll see you out there." Harry said to him. And he left.
Harry looked at Hermione. "Have you and Ron tried counseling?"
"We've tried everything, Harry!" Hermione shouted in tears. "Nothing has worked. But we have…" She lowered her voice and looked to the stairs. "We have discussed a…a divorce," Hermione said. Ginny pulled Hermione into her shoulder as she cried harder.