Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters Made up by J. , though I do own character's I have made up.
A/N: This is my first ever fanfiction, so read and enjoy. I started this fanfiction in 2013, I have recently decided to come back to as leaving it unfinished was starting to bug me. After four years I can see how my writing has developed and changed, so I have started this story off my editing all the chapters already uploaded and deciding where I want the plot to go. I have had so much help from my Beta HnD57 who has given me ideas and helped me writing this while also checking my work for any mistakes. I hope you like this first chapter and follow the story as it comes along.
Hermione Granger, a bushy head know it all witch, was waiting anxiously on her sofa, reminiscing about her life over the last three years since the war. The first few weeks after Harry had landed the killing blow on Voldemort, things had been crazy. The time was filled with celebrations across the country, rejoicing in the newly reformed wizarding world. Even the muggles felt the relief of it even if they didn't know entirely what was going on; just that the ominous cloud surrounding their life over the last few years had disappeared over night.
Hermione and Ron had soon found comfort in the arms of each other, grieving for the people they had lost as well as slowly getting back to a normal life; well as normal as life could get for 2/3 of the golden trio. Fame had come quickly to them with every newspaper and magazine wanting an exclusive interview on their version of events which normally resulted in elaborate fabrications on what really happened to them during the war. Rita Skeeter was the worst, even going as far as to say that Hermione had not only had a relationship with Ron, but Harry as well. This controversial tabloid headline made Hermione out to be the harlot of the century. They all just ignored the comments until people, eventually, moved on.
Even though Ron and Hermione's relationship at the start had been a fairy tale come true, over recent months it had become distant and strained. Hermione had put it down to the decline of emotions after the war. Everyone was on such a high that they didn't really face the realisation of all the death and destruction that had occurred due to Voldermort, and his following of Death Eaters; everyone was so busy celebrating at first that when they eventually came back to reality, it was a pretty hard thing to face.
Whenever they had made plans with each other Ron would always find an excuse not to go, whether it would be that he was busy with work, had forgotten and already made other plans or that he just plain and simple didn't want to. Whenever Hermione asked he would get very defensive about it. They began spending less and less time with each other, something which Hermione greatly pretended not to notice.
His lack of commitment and effort began to make her feel as if she was worthless and not good enough maybe Ron had changed his mind about her after all this time. She had dreamed about her prince charming since she was little, how she was going to fall in love and live happily ever after.
Then all of a sudden the familiar ding of the floo network went off and interrupted Hermione's thoughts. Hermione jumped up and quickly straightened down her long blue satin dress.
'Hermione?' A familiar man's voice sounded through the room.
'In here!' She nervously replied quickly glancing in the mirror to check her hair was still under control, the quick slick hair product she had borrowed off Ginny was really working to tame her wild hair. Hermione let out a sigh of relief. Just as a freckly-ginger walked into the room, wearing a goofy uneasy smile as soon as he laid eyes on her.
Hermione didn't often go out on date's, but was so shocked when her boyfriend actually asked her, she could hardly refuse. He wasn't the romantic type, and hardly ever asked her to go anywhere, often choosing to have 'dates' with her in her own flat. So, Hermione had decided to go all out and treat herself; she had bought new shoes, a new dress, and had also decided to invite Ginny over to do her hair and make up, the only Weasley daughter could hardly contain her excitement
'Hey, Ron' She said sheepishly. She glanced over his attire and was pleasantly surprised with the outfit he had chosen for their evening meal: a button down pale blue shirt that he had somehow managed to accidentally match with the colour of her dress and that was tucked neatly into his tailor trousers.
'Gods, Hermione, you look beautiful.' Ronald Weasley exclaimed. Seeing her all dressed up and having made obvious effort for this date made him feel like there was a living creature of guilt wriggling around in his stomach.
'Thanks Ron, you look dashing' She admired him warily, as she nibbled on her bottom lip. A habit of hers that she had tried to break so many times with the urging of her parents, but she just couldn't help it.
The way she was dressed and the way she was acting made the guilty feeling intensify and he got even more anxious about talking to her tonight.
After staring at each other for a while, he finally cleared his throat. He put his arm out to her ready to apparate to the muggle restaurant he was taking her too.
'Sure.' She uttered as she grabbed his arm, and felt the familiar sensation of apparation.
The beginning of the dinner, had gone absolutely amazing they had talked none stop, about the war, about their friends, about the future. For starter's they shared a plate of dublin bay prawns. For main they had chateaubriand. Followed by a dessert.
It was after talks about the future that Ron realised he would have to finally bring up the reason he'd brought her to dinner. 'So, I brought you here to ask you something' He wearily admitted. As the waiter served them lemon torte with fresh cream.
At saying that Hermione's mind went into overdrive. 'Oh Godric he's going to ask me to marry him!'She Happily thought. Encouraging him to continue by a small nod of her head.
'Well I don't know how to say this, Hermione but...' He stumbled for words, while he nervously scratching the back of his neck.
Hermione leaned in, waiting for whatever he was about to say. She suddenly getting a tad anxious for whatever question would leave Ron's lips.
'Well, I'm just going to come out with it' He admitted. Gathering all his Gryffindor courage he could manage. 'D… Do you think we could take a break?' He said, avoiding eye contact with her.
Hermione felt like a steal tonne of lead had been dropped at the pit of her stomach. She took in a sharp breath. 'What.. Ron? I – I - I don't understand?' Her eye's watering. 'You took me out to dinner, let me believe you loved me?' Her anger starting to rise.
'Hermione, It just not working out, It's not you..' He tried to explain.
'It's not me, it's you right?' She exclaimed angrily. 'You took me out to a restaurant, so I that I wouldn't be able to shout or get too upset because you knew I wouldn't want to draw attention to myself didn't you?' She shockingly realised.
He nodded timidly.
'Well you know what Ronald Weasley, I couldn't give too shits, if people stare.' She declared as her voice rose with anger. She momentarily let her anger take over, let herself pretend they weren't in a restaurant full of muggles.
'Hermione, please calm down. We can discuss this..' Ron attempted but was soon silenced when a glass of red wine, was all down the front of him. He was too shocked by her actions to even comprehend that she'd thrown the actual glass and not just it's contents at him.
As tears ran down her face, which was filled with pure hatred, she managed to say: 'It's over Ron.' She mentally slapped herself, for being so weak and showing him how much he had hurt her. ' Just tell me is there someone else?' She gingerly asked.
Ron looked down in shame, and timidly nodded his head.
Hermione shook her head in utter disbelief. She always knew deep down that Ronald Weasley would break her heart, but she never thought he was capable of this, of betraying her in such a foul way. 'Who?' She whispered.
Ron, stayed silent. 'WHO!' Hermione shouted, as the whole restaurant, went silent, all eyes and heads turning towards their table.
'Pansy Parkinson' Ron Mumbled.
'What did you say?' Hermione exclaimed, as silent tears ran down her face.
'Pansy Parkinson.' Ron said, with a bit more confidence. Finally managing looking her in the eye, before quickly realising how much of a mistake that was and looking away with guilt all over his face.
'Hermione, I'm in love with her and she love's me! I am so sorry, but the spark we used to have went a long time ago. I never meant for this to happen but it just did, please I know that you won't forgive me but eventually I hope we could be friends again' He explained.
Hermione admitted to herself that the spark they used to have when the war ended three years ago had slowly disappeared. But that didn't stop it from hurting.
She pushed her chair back as calmly as she could and got up very quietly with her head held high. Looking directly into Ron's eyes which were now filled with guilt and remorse and said 'Goodbye Ronald.'
And with that she turned and walked out of the restaurant, not without missing the pity full stares of everyone in the restaurant.
As soon as she was far enough away from that wretched place (which she never planned to return to) she apparated home, numbly unlocking the door.
She looked around at her small flat which she had called home for the last two years. Each room and object held a memory of Ron, where they had sat for hours on end cuddled up on the sofa watching the lord of the rings trilogy, game of thrones and pride prejudice. Even though she had spent most of the time explaining to Ron that these were only fictional events, he still wanted to enact revenge on the muggle who killed Sean Bean.
In the kitchen they had made pancakes together which resulted in the both of them on the floor covered in flour laughing until their sides hurts. The bed they had shared over the years whenever he decided to stay over, which recently had become less and less as they weeks went by.
There were many, many photographs and trinkets littered around the living room; photos of happier times, presents he'd bought her, thinks they'd found together on long past adventures. She suddenly felt her entire body go weak as tears reappeared in her eyes.
She slowly went through the process of getting herself ready for bed and that night she fell into an uneasy sleep, replaying the night's events over and over in her head.
A/N : Thanks for reading, if you enjoyed it please leave a review, thanks.