Hermione and Hugo stood on the platform waiting for the Hogwarts Express. It was Christmas, and Rose was coming home. Ron was at Godric's Hollow with Harry and Ginny, and they would be joining them soon.

Hermione's face was pinched, with deep shadows under her eyes. Ron had offered her whatever she wanted in the divorce, but she had wanted nothing but joint custody of the children. Even so, she had got the house in Godric's Hollow and the children had chosen to live with her permanently. They saw Ron whenever they wanted, but he had been quite busy in London, furnishing his new flat in Diagon Alley and partying quite a lot. Hermione was tired and heartbroken. She hated giving up on anything, let alone a 14 year marriage, and it was taking its toll on her.

"Mum!"

A blur of reddish brown ran into Hermione's waiting arms. The front of her coat grew steadily wetter until Rose pulled back.

"Rose," Hermione said softly, looking at her daughter's miserable face.

"Hi Rose," Hugo said. Rose hugged her little brother hard.

Hermione led the way out of the station.

"Right, Hugo, I'll take you first," Hermione said briskly. "Come on."

Hermione apparated with Hugo and left him at the front door of Harry's house. Rose was exactly where she left her seconds before when she reappeared. She hugged her mum tight as Hermione apparated once again.

"Come in, it's cold," Ginny said brightly, ushering Rose in and smiling at Hermione over her shoulder.

Hermione entered the warm house and immediately saw Ron sitting on the sofa with Hugo. She bit back a retort. Ron had been an absent father for the last two months, ignoring Rose's letters and missing appointments with Hugo. Hermione had been there to console, but she had found it very hard not to attack Ron verbally in front of Hugo. He was ruining whatever relationship he had with their children.

Ron nodded at her, smiling sadly, and Hermione relaxed. It was Christmas. He would at least be here now.

"Hi, Aunt Hermione", James said, rushing past her to chase Albus up the stairs. The Potter children had come home two days earlier via Portkey, as Harry had been in St Mungo's following a particularly dangerous raid. He sat in the armchair closest to the fire now, his right arm held stiffly against his body. He looked up to meet Hermione's gaze and smiled sadly. She walked over to sit next to him.

"Hi Hermione," Harry said softly, searching her face for clues.

"Hi Harry, how's the arm?" Hermione asked. Harry smiled ruefully.

"It's fine, really. Ginny keeps making me sit still and do nothing, but I want to help. She's been so tired recently."

Hermione smiled as she looked at Ginny setting the table with Rose and Hugo. Ron was reading the paper, utterly at ease, but Harry looked uneasy.

"How's she flying at the moment? I haven't had time to go to a match for ages."

Harry shook his head.

"Ask Ron. He comes to every match."

Hermione frowned. Harry continued.

"She's doing really well, I have no doubt she'll be made Captain when Gwenog Jones retires."

"That's amazing!" Hermione said. "Though that'll be a while yet, I imagine?"

"Yes. Sorry Hermione, Ginny needs my help."

Ginny was waving her hands about in the kitchen, and Hermione could smell burning. Harry jumped up and helped her, and minutes later the burning smell had gone and Ginny was laughing.

Hermione smiled at first, but then it faded as her gaze fell on Ron.


Hermione kissed Rose and Hugo goodnight one by one and closed their bedroom doors, before settling back onto the sofa with a glass of wine. She had caught up on all her work in the last few weeks so she could relax with her family over Christmas, but now she was left with nothing to do and nobody to talk to. Maybe she should just go to bed.

Ron's owl tapped on the window. Hermione eased herself out of her seat and opened it, trying not to let too much rain come in with the sodden bird. It held an envelope in its sharp beak, and Hermione released it of its burden before finding a few Owl Treats. The bird hooted impatiently.

"Fine, fine, I'm reading it."

Hermione,

I wanted to let you know that I've met someone else. It's early days still, but I thought it would be best if you found out from me.

Maybe now you can finally accept it's over and find someone else.

Ron

Hermione gasped and crumpled up the letter, throwing it into the fireplace. She marched to the window and opened it, letting the rain and wind come rushing in.

"Get out. You aren't getting a reply," she yelled to the owl, who ruffled its feathers indignantly before taking off. Hermione slammed the window shut and slid to the floor.

How had he met someone so quickly? How could he? Hermione barely had time to take a bath. She supposed living on his own in London removed a few of the duties which took up Hermione's daily routine, but she was still in love with him and hadn't even noticed anyone else. He, however, had forgotten her already.

Hermione sat on the floor for hours, the fire slowly dwindling.


Christmas that year was awkward, but Rose and Hugo seemed to cheer up the longer they spent at home. Ron arrived after breakfast on Christmas Day bearing presents, and they spent a good few hours opening them. Ron had bought Hermione a new scarf, which Hermione fingered softly before setting aside. Ron unwrapped the book she had given him. It was her usual sort of present, and he rolled his eyes almost imperceptibly.

"Ha! No surprises as usual," he remarked, but when he caught sight of the title, his smirk faded.

150 Household Spells

It was Hermione's turn to smirk.

"Very mature," he muttered as he passed her. Rose looked up from where she was sitting on the floor, surrounded by wrapping paper debris.

"Thank you, Mum, they're lovely."

Hermione had got Rose a full set of Rowena Ravenclaw's Magical Laws, as she knew Rose would appreciate them.

"I hope you find them interesting," Hermione said. "They should really help you with Transfiguration. I know you're only in First Year, but you'll definitely come to rely on them as you study for your OWLs."

"Typical Mum, eh?" Ron said jovially. Rose scowled.

"I like them," she said. "Me and Mum both like books, so don't make fun of her. You always put her down."

Rose got up and left the room. Ron and Hermione looked at each other, Ron with anger and Hermione with hurt.

"Don't play innocent now, Hermione," Ron said. "You've done enough hurting in our time together."

Hermione laughed shortly.

"It's Christmas Day, Ron. Let's leave the arguments for another time. It's time to leave for The Burrow soon."

Molly had invited them all to Christmas dinner, making it clear to Hermione that she was as welcome as she had ever been. Hermione couldn't help but remember her Fourth Year, when her Easter egg had been significantly smaller than Harry's and Ron's. Molly could be petty, and she was sure Ron's side would be taken in this divorce. Molly was a traditional woman.

"I'll meet you there," Ron said.

Hermione didn't ask why, but left to find Rose and Hugo. She spotted an old hairbrush on Rose's bedside table.

"Do you use that anymore, Rose?" she asked, pointing to it. Rose shook her head.

"Portus," Hermione whispered, pointing her wand at it. "I know Portkey is uncomfortable, but then so is Apparition. One day we'll invent a way of travelling that is fast and comfortable."

"Hopefully one day soon," Rose grumbled, brushing her thick hair with her new de-bushing brush that Ron had given her for Christmas.

When Hermione, Rose and Hugo opened the kitchen door to The Burrow, Molly closed the living room door with a snap as soon as she saw Hermione.

"Hermione! Rose, Hugo, Happy Christmas!"

Rose and Hugo rushed to hug her.

"Your cousins are upstairs, go and find them."

Rose and Hugo ran upstairs, leaving Hermione and Molly alone. Molly pulled her into a tight hug.

"You've got thinner," she said reprovingly. "Second and third helpings for you today. And I've set you between me and Albus. Ron is at the other end of the table."

"Molly, you don't have to go to such lengths. Ron and I are more than capable of sitting near each other without throwing things."

Molly sighed.

"You'll want to throw things in a minute. He's brought someone with him to dinner."

Hermione blinked back the tears that had suddenly appeared in her eyes. She bit her lip.

"He sent me an owl last night to say that he had met someone," she whispered. "I didn't think he would bring her to Christmas dinner!"

Molly sniffed.

"He's been an idiot. I know you two had your problems, but to give up so easily is typical of Ron. He's been used to being taken care of for so long. When he came back on his own that time, I was so relieved at first to know he was safe, but then disappointed that he had given up on you and Harry."

Hermione placed a comforting hand on Molly's shoulder.

"Ron has been used to a comfortable home life. My cooking was dreadful, we had no food, we were cold, depressed and stuck for clues. He had a family to escape to, we didn't, so who knows what we would have done if we could have come back to you."

"You could have done, but you didn't. No, Ron gave up on you, that's a fact, and he's gone and found that floozy Lavender Brown to try and replace you."

Hermione saw red. She took a deep breath and reached for a plate.

"No, no, not my best plates!" Molly cried.

"I'll fix it," Hermione said through gritted teeth. She flung the plate at the wall, where it smashed into a thousand pieces.

"Lavender. Fucking. Brown," she said slowly, before waving her wand and repairing the plate. Molly sighed in relief, taking it from Hermione's hand before she could break it again.

"How dare he bring her here, where I am, where our children are celebrating Christmas, where my family and friends are there to see me publicly humiliated?"

Hermione's voice rose hysterically at the end of her question.

"I'll ask her to leave," Molly said, wringing her hands. She had never seen Hermione this mad.

"No, I will," Hermione said firmly. "She will understand."

She marched towards the closed living room door and flung it open. An awkward scene met her eyes. Bill, Fleur, Percy, Audrey, Charlie, George, Angelina, Harry and Ginny sat at one end of the room, talking quietly, and Ron and Lavender were at the other end, whispering to each other, hands clasped. They all looked up with matching expressions of horror as Hermione entered.

"Lavender, could I have a word?" Hermione asked quietly. Lavender nodded and got up silently, but Ron shook his head. Hermione turned to fix him with a piercing glare.

"Not you, Ron. I don't want to talk to you. I want to talk to Lavender. Don't worry, your girlfriend will be in one piece afterwards."

Ron paled, but sat back, and Lavender followed Hermione out of the room. She looked at Hermione apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Hermione, but you know I've always liked Ron and well, things with you two were going so bad I didn't think you'd mind."

Hermione filed that information away for later. So, things had started before the divorce.

"Lavender, I would like you to leave. I think your presence here at a family event, so soon after the divorce, will be very painful for my children and create an awkward atmosphere."

Lavender coloured.

"I...of course I'll go. I didn't think about Rose and Hugh."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at her mistake, but didn't comment.

"I'll just say goodbye to Ron."

Hermione stood in her way.

"I think it would just be best if you left. I'll tell Ron you had to go. Family emergency."

Lavender nodded and with one last look at the living room door, walked across the kitchen and out the door.

Hermione held herself together through dinner. Ron was staring daggers at her across the table, but she managed to avoid his gaze and concentrated on eating Molly's incredible food. George and Angelina mostly carried the conversation, telling anecdotes about their work at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Hermione even found herself laughing once or twice. The children, unaware of the atmosphere among the adults, had a wonderful time.

After dinner, Hermione nursed a large glass of wine on the sofa between Harry and Ginny. They refused to leave her side all evening, aware that Ron was waiting for the earliest opportunity to attack her.

"Mum, when are we going home?" Hugo said, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Hermione smiled fondly.

"Soon, dear. We'll go home and watch The Snowman, then cuddle up in bed."

"Actually, Hermione, I was thinking of taking the children back to my flat tonight," Ron said sharply. Hermione looked at him pointedly. Leave them out of it, she thought.

"I want to sleep in my bed," Rose said firmly. "All my presents are at home and I want to play with them."

"Why does Uncle Ron have his own flat?" Albus asked innocently. "Does he have too many things to fit into your house?"

"It's because he's got a floozy," Victoire said archly, looking sidelong at her best friend Teddy. Teddy smirked.

"What's a floozy, Dad, and why have you got one?" Hugo asked, looking up at his father with big brown eyes.

Hermione tried not to laugh. She had drunk far too much wine. This really wasn't fun. Next to her, Ginny was suppressing a giggle.

"Hugo, you know me and your mother have split up. I have a girlfriend, not a floozy," Ron said, glaring at Molly and Hermione equally.

Hugo's lip trembled.

Hermione bristled.

"Hugo, come here," she said softly. "Aunt Ginny will make you some hot chocolate." Ginny nodded and took Hugo into the kitchen. Rose sat back on her heels, glaring at her father with an expression matching Hermione's.

"Ron, it's Christmas. You didn't have to tell him today. You shouldn't have brought her today. We were trying not to make this traumatic for them!"

Ron scowled.

"He had to know sooner or later. Stop coddling him, Hermione. Maybe it's you who can't deal with the situation, and you're using Hugo to try and make me feel guilty!"

Hermione gasped, outraged, and was surprised when many of the family did too. She opened her mouth to retort, but Molly got there first.

"Ronald Weasley! How dare you be so insensitive. You give Hermione less than 24 hours to come to terms with you moving on so quickly, and then bring that girl to Christmas dinner and expect your wife of 14 years and two young children to be perfectly fine with it! How selfish can you be?"

"And how dare you suggest that I would use Hugo in that way?" Hermione screamed. "I don't know what I ever saw in you, Ronald, and I think I can safely say that I am no longer in love with you!"

Hermione drained her glass of wine, then turned to her daughter, who was staring at her mother with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry, Rose, for that outburst, and all of you children. And the rest of you," Hermione said, calming down. She felt an exhilaration at her realisation which was visible in her bright eyes and pink cheeks. Harry smiled proudly.

"Don't be sorry, Hermione," Arthur said firmly. Hermione smiled, gratified.

"Nonetheless, I think that's quite enough excitement for one evening. Say goodbye, Rose."

Harry hugged Hermione fiercely.

"I love Ron, but he has been an idiot, and I hope you can move on now, 'Mione," he whispered in her ear. Hermione squeezed him back in response.

Once home, they settled in Hermione's bed to watch The Snowman, then fell asleep all together in the big bed. They had both cried at the end of the film, but Hermione hadn't, too drained by the events of the day. She fell asleep with a weary smile on her face.