Chapter One: the One Where They're in Love
"How could you do this to me? How?" She screamed, near hysterics.
She was filled with so much resentment, so much suffering, so much regret. It felt like her heart had broken, like it had stopped beating the moment she entered the grand, master bedroom. And it was his entire fault. He had broken her…again, and now there was no turning back. Ever. Some may say that she's to blame, but she didn't care. She didn't have a single care in the world because the only thing she ever cared for was this man in front of her, but now she's giving him up.
Without waiting for him to respond, she ran down the stairs of his vast and beautiful mansion, refusing to let him see her cry again, and left for good. Never looking back.
-:-
Four years ago…
"Hermione." Harry said, quietly nudging the beautiful brunette sitting next to him on the Hogwarts Express. "Wake up, Hermione."
Slowly, she awoke from her deep slumber and tentatively opened her eyes, revealing two sparkling, light chocolate pupils. Despite the terror she's gone through, Harry was always fascinated by the fact that her eyes never lost its young, gleaming beauty. She sat up peacefully and surveyed her surroundings. "Are we almost home, Harry?"
Harry smiled and took her hand in his. "Yes, we've finally reached London."
Hermione smiled just as warmly back at her best friend—boyfriend—as she felt the train come to a stop at the station. They slowly exited their compartment and stepped onto the platform. The moment Hermione's foot touched the solid ground below her; she felt an overwhelming rush come over her. It was something she hadn't felt in a long, long time. She had missed its comfort—she had missed the comfort of safety.
There she was, standing on the platform swarming with peaceful, joyous people, hand-in-hand with her boyfriend, the-boy-who-lived-to beat-the-Dark-Lord-and-save-the-wizard-community. She was overwhelmed, alright. Overwhelmed with happiness.
It had been a while since she had been so happy and serene at the same time. For the past year, she had been fighting for the Light Side trying to kill Voldemort and all his damn horcruxes. The terror and destruction she had witnessed in the past 365 days will always be a part of her. Too much had happened for her to leave the past in the past. She had lost so many loved ones. They had lost so many loved ones. Harry and she had lost a particular loved one that they will never forgive Lucius Malfoy for taking. He had taken him. Ron.
At the age of seventeen, Ronald Weasley had departed us all.
"Ron." Hermione whispered with sadness, after Harry had apparated them to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
"What?" Harry stated quietly. He had heard her clearly.
"Ron. Ron loved ice cream, especially orange sherbet." Hermione added quietly, as they entered the ice cream shop.
"I know he did." Harry added mournfully.
"Harry! It's so good to see you! Congratulations!" Florean greeted, the moment they stepped foot into his parlor. Harry smiled sincerely. He had got to know Florean Fortescue very well since his third year, along with Ron.
Harry shook out of his thoughts of Ron. "Thank you. I'm glad the war is finally over. I was beginning to think that we were going to beat England and France's Hundred Year's War."
Florean and Hermione laughed, breaking the tension within Hermione. "Who is this gorgeous, young lady we have here?"
Hermione smiled at Florean's good humor. "I'm Hermione Granger."
"She's my girlfriend." Harry replied protectively as he gave Hermione a kiss on the forehead.
"Well, I think you two lovebirds deserve free ice cream, compliments of Draco Malfoy."
Hermione and Harry turned to see the same sneering, arrogant ferret Harry had seen running away after the death of Dumbledore. He stood in the entrance of the parlor and glared between Harry and Hermione. His cold, grey eyes challenged Harry's light, emerald ones.
"What the hell are you doing here, Malfoy!" Harry spitted with distaste. It wasn't a question.
Draco gasped in a mocking manner. "Here I was, hoping a bit of…sincerity and generosity… would tie the loose ends we had left tangled as mere children." Draco put on a fake pout and sighed.
Hermione glared loathingly at the talking piece of ferret shit in front of her, and remembered that it was in fact, his father who hadn't taken Ron from her. Without any further thinking, she angrily charged toward the Ferret, but was quickly held back by Harry's strong arms.
"PISS OFF, MALFOY!!!" Hermione screamed, and spit in Draco's direction.
Draco's expression lost its mocking demeanor for a split second before he smirked once again and then left the shop without another word.
Harry tried to calm the still fuming Hermione, as Florean scooped them two cups of ice cream. "Here you go, Mr. Potter. Ms. Granger. It's on the house. This flavor is favored by many of the customers here. Orange Sherbet."
-:-
Hermione lay wide awake on her bed, next to a snoring Harry. She was in the Grimmauld Place. The former headquarters for the Order. Despite the safety she felt she had reached within its walls, she couldn't help but feel the bittersweet pain of the many memories that the Golden Trio had shared there. These walls held almost as many good memories as Hogwarts. She sighed exhaustedly, yet every ounce of her willed her to stay awake.
Hermione sighed once again before reluctantly and silently got out of bed and climbed down the stairs to the kitchen. She brewed herself a hot cup of earl grey; her favorite. It was still 5:30 in the morning, and she could see the slight outline of reddish sunlight from the kitchen window.
She drank her soothing tea and decided that today was going to be the day that she's going to find herself a job. Preferably a well-paying one at the Ministry of Magic. As the thoughts of being an independent, working girl filled her mind, Hermione felt a thrill. She was excited to have a clean slate and start a normal, post-war life.
"Hermione?" A tired voice echoed throughout the house.
"Yes, Harry? I'm in the kitchen."
Harry entered the half-illuminated kitchen with his hair messy, his pajamas crinkled, and his glasses crooked. Hermione naturally smiled at the cluttered sight.
"What are you doing up so early?" He yawned, stretching his muscular arms up into the air, and then around Hermione into a hug.
"I couldn't sleep too well. I'm too excited for today's job hunting!" Hermione half-squealed, as she returned Harry's hug.
Harry pulled out of their hug and looked questioningly into Hermione's eyes. "You don't have to get a job, 'Mione. I already make enough money as an Auror to support us both. Why don't you go back to medical school and finish your training instead?"
"I've been healing the wounded for an entire year during the war, remember? It's a slightly depressing job, in case you didn't notice." Hermione replied a bit too harshly. She was only seventeen and Harry was acting as if they were already married and shared a jointed bank account. Sighing with frustration, Hermione willed Harry to understand her actions with her eyes. "Harry, I can support myself, I don't want to have to depend on you for everything."
Harry gave Hermione a tired look, and turned to leave. "Alright. I don't like where this conversation is heading, especially this early in the morning. I'm going back to bed."
"Fine. I'm going to stop by the Ministry later on, so you don't have to wait up for me." Hermione said bitterly, stopping Harry in his tracks.
Harry turned to look at Hermione with a look that clearly read 'you don't need a job', but Hermione's fierce expression replied with a 'you can't stop me'. Harry sighed with defeat and gave Hermione a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek, careful to avoid bad morning breath. "I'll see you later, then"
"Go back to sleep, Harry." Hermione teased, knowing she had won their two-minute argument. "You've got circles under your eyes darker than Voldemort."
"Funny." Harry remarked sarcastically before poking at Hermione's side, making her giggle and squirm. "Stay safe, gorgeous. I love you."
Hermione laughed and gently pushed Harry back up the stairs and tucked him into bed. "I love you too."
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