Note: Obviously, I don't own anything.

I've been reading a lot of Hermione/Draco, Hermione/Snape, and Hermione/Remus fics lately, and I love all of them. I like anyone but Ron, honestly. He just isn't good enough for her, in my opinion. Anyway, I hope you all like this. I definitely want to continue it, but posting stuff here without any feedback kind of makes me feel like I'm throwing my writing into the void, so reviews would be much appreciated!

Hermione left the Gryffindor common room, headed down the now-familiar path to the great hall for breakfast. It was a drowsy Friday morning a little more than halfway through the first term of her 8th year at Hogwarts. After the war, Hermione, like Harry, Ron, and many others, had decided to return to Hogwarts to finish her studies and take her NEWTs, even though she and everyone else knew that she could ace them without the extra year of classes. In order to make her last year at school worthwhile, McGonagall decided that Hermione would complete mini-internships with some of the professors in addition to her regular classes; since helping the injured after the final battle had inspired Hermione to want to become a Healer, she would complete internships in charms and potions for half a term each and would apprentice under Madame Pomfrey starting after Christmas. Last week, she had completed her charms internship with glowing remarks from Professor Flitwick, and on Monday, she had begun her potions studies. Initially, she had been nervous about spending so much one-on-one time with Professor Snape, but he was merely intense, rather than cruel, as he was during regular potions classes. Hermione wondered if it had something to do with the fact that she had been the one who had helped Madame Pomfrey tend to his injuries after the final battle. Or maybe, she thought cynically, it's just because I have yet to make any know-it-all comments or screw up any potions.

Her studies were not the only thing going well, though; even her personal relationships were improving. Parvati and Lavender had opted to open a tea shop together, rather than return to school and complete their exams, so Hermione was now rooming with Ginny. Living together had helped the two girls grow closer than ever, and Hermione was thrilled to finally have a girlfriend who wasn't totally ditzy like Parvati and Lavender. She had also been the first person Harry had come out to when he started dating Draco, and she knew that her unconditional acceptance had strengthened their already close friendship. Yes, Hermione mused, I suppose the only thing that isn't going well this year is my relationship with Ron. But there's always got to be something.

Think of the devil, Hermione thought, as Ron and Harry rounded a corner and appeared in front of her. She was just about to speed up and catch up with them, when she heard what Ron was saying.

"...Bloody nightmare of a girlfriend she is, honestly," he said to Harry with a grimace, "She nags and nags- it's like my mother!" He lowered his voice and Hermione strained to hear him, "Plus the fact that she won't even put out after all this time, ya know?" Hermione raised her eyebrows, shocked. She knew the relationship was falling apart, but how could he say such things about her?

"C'mon, mate," Harry said, "You know it isn't supposed to be all about sex." Hermione smiled. At least Harry was standing up for her.

"I know, I know," Ron conceded, "Although, I gotta say, it isn't really about much else right now either. You know how bloody insufferable she can be sometimes." Hermione had had enough.

"Is that really what you think, Ronald? That I'm insufferable?!" she exclaimed as they entered the great hall, her voice much more shrill than she would have liked. The room fell silent and heads turned their way as Ron and Harry spun around to face her. Harry groaned. Ron's eyes widened.

"Oh, come on, 'Mione, I didn't know you were there…" he stammered.

"That makes it worse!" she shrieked.

"'Mione, please stop yelling…" he tried again.

"I won't!" she yelled even louder, "And now you haven't got a girlfriend at all, nightmare or otherwise! Isn't it just lovely how that works?"

"I'm sorry…" he started, closing the gap between them and reaching out his hand.

"Don't you dare touch me, Ronald Weasley!" she snarled, "You stay away from me!" Ron placed his hand on her shoulder, despite her words. Less than half a second later, her stinging hex hit him squarely in the face, knocking him backwards over a breakfast table, much to the shock and horror of a few Ravenclaw first years. Without a word, Hermione crossed the room, ignoring all of the eyes on her, and sat down at her usual place at the Gryffindor table, back straight and head held high.

Seamus and Neville rushed over to Ron, slung his arms over their shoulders, and all but carried him out of the room, presumably to the hospital wing. Harry stood for a moment, glancing between the retreated red-headed figure and the bushy-haired one sitting at the table. He sighed and sat down next to Hermione. It was really Ron's own fault, anyway, and Ron had Neville and Seamus.

"Hermione…" he started.

"I don't want to talk about it," she said stiffly. Draco sauntered over to the Gryffindor table- an act that used to cause quite a commotion, but was now commonplace- and Harry instantly brightened.

"Killer way to end a relationship, Granger," he said with a smirk and even held up his hand for a high five as he sat down across from Harry. Hermione couldn't help but smile and smack his hand half-heartedly.

"Don't get any ideas," Harry told him sarcastically.

"You don't have to worry, love, I won't ever want to break up with you," Draco said, with a genuineness that still surprised Hermione. Harry smiled and grabbed his hand across the table. Usually, Hermione loved how cute they were, but right now, it made her want to gag. She grabbed an apple and stood abruptly, muttering something about going for a walk. She rushed out of the great hall, determined that she wouldn't let anyone or anything- save the trees and rocks outside the castle- see her cry.

Hermione paced back and forth near the lake, pondering her tears. She shouldn't have been upset at the end of a relationship that had been failing since it started. No, she was mostly relieved that Ron had given her a reason to break up with him; she wouldn't have had the courage to do it otherwise. So, if the break up wasn't what was bothering her, it could only be one other thing: Ron's words echoed in her mind, until they morphed into a similar sentence said in the higher-pitched voice of a child.

"It's LeviosA not LeviOsa…" memory Ron said in an annoying imitation of her voice, "She's a nightmare, she is. It's no wonder she hasn't got any friends." An eleven-year-old Hermione pushed past him, tears forming in her eyes.

Now, Hermione was thirteen, clinging to her beloved Crookshanks as Ron berated her about how evil the thing was, not bothering to pay attention to the fact that "the bloody evil beast" sometimes felt like her only friend.

It was later that same year, and now Ron was yelling at her for turning Harry's new broom in to Professor McGonagall. Hermione tried to tell him that she was just concerned about Harry's safety, and besides, what business was it of his? It was Harry's broom, and he wasn't yelling at her. But, none of that stopped Ron from not speaking to her for a week.

Now, Hermione was fourteen, and Ron was teasing her mercilessly about S.P.E.W. Of course, it was silly, but he never made for Harry for anything he was passionate about, did he? And why, after a year of treating her so rudely did he expect her to drop her plans and go to the Yule Ball with him? And why was he in such disbelief that she could get a date?

Now, Hermione was sixteen, and she was desperately researching the Halfblood Prince, begging Harry to believe her that his potions book was dangerous. This time, Ron say anything overtly offensive, but how could he have such a hard time believing that a girl was clever enough to invent those spells when his best friend was commonly called "the brightest witch of her age?"

Finally, Hermione was seventeen and under more physical, emotional, and mental stress than she had ever been in her life. Yes, destroying Voldemort was officially Harry's task, but hunting for horcruxes took its toll on all three of them. She listened to all of Ron's rude remarks without comment, felt her heart break at his infuriated exit, and welcomed him back, forgave him, just as he expected. Just as she always did.

Well, not this time, Hermione thought, leaning on a tree for support. Ron had his sweet moments, there was no denying that, but that didn't change the little ways he had torn her down over the years. He may not have come with Slytherin tie, self-important air, and thugs trailing him everywhere, but there was no denying it: Ron was a bully.

Hermione allowed herself to shed one last tear at her revelation, then glanced at her watch and gathered her books. She had a long day of classes ahead of her, not to mention her potions internship with Snape tonight after dinner. She pulled herself together, determined to go on about her business as usual. Hermione Granger was not one to wallow in her problems, that was for damn sure.