Chapter One

It was a year after the Battle of Hogwarts, everyone was moving on. I had graduated Hogwarts with Outstanding in all my NEWTs. I had gotten a job in the Ministry and I was happy.

Harry and Ron worked there as Aurors. I and Ron were still together, although it was hard while we were at Hogwarts. George was copying without Fred and had just started dating Angelina Johnson. I was always there for George after Fred died and we began very close friends. I was still promoting better rights for house elves. This had lead me to getting a job in the Ministry working in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. I had already starting working there and I didn't really enjoy it much but it was an income and I could pay the rent. It was enough for me to survive on.

I and Ron had moved in together and we were living in an apartment in London. We shared the rent and the bills. Our relationship was working but we had been growing distance since I came back from Hogwarts. Harry and Ginny know something that I don't but they will not tell me. I have a feeling that Ron cheated on me but I don't know. I know that sounds bad and I am doubting Ron but it's hard not to. I know something happened even though Ginny was with me at Hogwarts I could tell she know something.

I decided to go and see George and ask him if he know anything, I have not seen him since I came back from Hogwarts. I went round to his house and knocked on his door.

"Hey George, long time no see." I said at him and smiled.
I pulled him into a hug. I went inside and he made me a tea.

"So, how has it been?"

I sipped my tea and said "Well I got a job in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and well I think something happened with Ron while I was away. Something is up and I don't know what it is. Do you have any idea George?"

He looked around the room and took a deep breath. "I don't think I should tell you this but I will anyway. Well while you were at Hogwarts, I saw Ron with some blond chick who works in the Ministry."

I nodded my head and got up and said "Thanks, George, I'm going to go." I walked out of his house and went home. I walked into my apartment with tears streaming down my face. I hoped Ron was out.

He walked into the hall and said "Hermione what's wrong?"

I looked at him, the innocence on his face. I screamed

"Don't ask me, what's wrong. I know who you were with while I was at Hogwarts. Ron I trusted you and you cheated on me!"

He eyes filled with anger, "Who told you this? It isn't true, I was helping her out and for repayment she took me to dinner a couple of times. It was nothing Hermione, I swear."

I turned around and ran out of the door. Ron tried to run after me but I apparated before he could. The only place I got think of was going was to Harry and Ginny's house.

I knocked on the door and said "Can I stay here for a while."

I hugged Ginny and Harry and went and sat on their couch. Ginny brought me a big glass of red wine. "He cheated on me with some dumb blond, I cannot believe it."

Harry looked up and groaned, "That's Bella, and she started about 6 months ago. She doesn't work in our department and she is surely going to get fired soon, she never does any work." I relaxed.

I woke up the next morning and rolled off the couch and went into the kitchen. I got myself some breakfast and a glass of water. My head was banging, I had drunk too much wine last night.

Ginny walked in and said "Morning Hermione. You need to talk to him." I got some toast and then went up to the bathroom to get ready. I quickly changed and went to work without bumping into Harry or Ginny. I got to work and I bumped into Ron, he tried calling my name but I carried on walking. I got to my office and started working, I worked through my lunch and went home early so I could get to my apartment before Ron got home. I walked in and Ron was sitting on the couch,

"Hermione before you run away, let's talk about this ok, you can't ignore me forever." I nodded my head and went to sit on the sofa.

"I didn't cheat on you Hermione, I was helping her settle in and I helped her move into her apartment. I told her about you and as repayment she took me to dinner. That's all it was ok."

I looked up and replied "Ron, I don't know if I can do this. There must be something more Ron otherwise everyone would have told me about it. I can't do this Ron, I'm breaking up with you."

He looked up at me, fear in his eyes and whispered "Mione, don't say that. I love you." I stood up and shouted "Ron, tell me what really happened?"

He stood up and said "I kissed her, OK, I was drunk and I don't know what was wrong with me."

I looked up and slapped him, "I know there was more, this is definitely over Ronald, don't try and win me back. Let's still be friends, nothing more than that. No matter, how much you try I won't be able to forgive you. I am going to move out and find my own apartment. I have found a little apartment near Harry and Ginny.

I got some new clothes and went to look at this apartment, tomorrow was my day off so I would be able to move all my stuff in. I walked down the road to the apartment, I walked inside it and I feel in love. It was old and classic. It was perfect. I said to the owner "I'll buy it." We signed the contract and I went back to Ron's apartment to get the rest of my stuff. I stuffed them into my little black beaded bag and went back, the apartment already had all its furniture and apparated back to my new apartment. I went to the store and bought some food and went back and started cooking my dinner.

I called George, "Hey George, me and Ron broke up, it turns out he kissed that blond women." George replied "OK, where are you going to live?" I replied "I bought a new apartment near Harry and Ginny's house so not far from you. " We said bye and hung up. I ate my dinner and went to bed.

*BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP* I looked across and I saw it was 7am. I got up and got ready. Today I was going to Diagon Alley to get some new robes and books. I apparated to the Leaky Cauldron. "Hey Tom," He nodded his head. I went to the brick wall and tapped it. I walked into Diagon Alley and it brought back memories of the first time, I had come here. I walked through all the shops and I decided to get an owl as Crookshanks had ran away while I was at Hogwarts. I had been sad but know I realised owls were much more useful. I walked into the shop and chose a barn owl. I walked out, carrying the owl and went to get some new robes, it surprisingly very quiet. I had everything I wanted and I decided to pop into George's shop. "Hey George" He walked over to me and we exchanged an awkward hug. "So, how are you copying Hermione?" He asked. "Well I am fine actually, I feel much better without Ron. I know that sounds mean but I had to do everything for him and now I only have to look after myself, I don't know how he is going to copy without me."

George laughed and said "That's quite true actually, I totally agree. So are you doing anything for dinner, Angelina is away and I will be eating alone otherwise." I nodded my head, Angelina was George's girlfriend and it annoyed me that he was dating someone else.

I didn't think they were a very good couple but everyone else thought they were, so I just agreed. I apparated home and put all my robes away and I decided to put a nice tight, black dress on with small black heels. I put my hair in a ponytail and got applied a little bit of make-up. I apparated to his house. I knocked on the door.

George opened the door and said "Wow Hermione, you look nice. We are only having dinner in."

I nodded and said "I wanted to make an effort George." He took me inside and offered me some wine and I declined and said "I'll have a firewhisky, if you don't mind." He nodded and walked into the kitchen. He grabbed me a firewhisky and bought it back. We made little conversation and then we ate. George had cooked pasta and chicken and it was amazing. I wanted more. Afterwards we had some mint-choc chip ice-cream. I stayed for a little while longer and talked some more. It was about 1am when the door unlocked and Angelina walked in. "George, Hermione what is going on?" Angelina asked.

I spoke up before George and said "George invited me over for some dinner, I am going through a rough time as I just broke up with Ron so George was just trying to offer support." Angelina nodded her head and I said "I'll just be going." I apparated back to my apartment and went to sleep, I had work tomorrow and I hoped, I had a lot of work to do. I decided to try for the promotion in 3 weeks' time, so I was going to do lots of extra work so I had a good chance.

I glanced across at the alarm clock and it was 7:30am, I had 30 minutes to get ready be at work. I grabbed breakfast and apparated to work. I ran to my office with a coffee and blueberry muffin in my hands. I got extra work and I didn't leave until 8pm. I walked back to my apartment and cooked myself a nice dinner. I showered and went to sleep. I got a letter from George saying 'I and Angelina broke up, she didn't believe what you said and we got into a huge row about it. I thought I should tell you.' I saw this note and my heart fluttered and I grabbed a quill and wrote 'I should not have come George, this is my fault. I am so sorry' I was secretly happy about this but I didn't want to admit what it meant, so I just ignored the feeling, I had in my stomach. I got a note back saying 'It wasn't your fault, we have been having rows for a while. I don't think Angelina liked my friendship with you.' I read the letter and replied saying Oh, if she didn't let you have friends then that is bad. Friends are always there for you. Like you have always been there for me' I sent the letter and I didn't get a reply, I know I had made him speechless.