The Golden Rule and the Broken Road

Chapter Two

Divorce. The word was weighing heavily on her mind; it had been since she received his owl several days before. Ginny acted as the go-between, bringing Gideon back and forth and Hermione was grateful for it.

The little boys demeanor had improved immensely since he had resumed spending time with his father and Hermione was sure her own would be helped if she could just see Fred. But, he didn't want to see her; he had made that much clear.

She was having lunch with George today, he had insisted saying he missed her being around and that her situation with Fred shouldn't change anything with them. He seemed to forget Hermione could sense a Weasley plot a mile away and George was plotting on a monumental level.

For once she welcomed the plotting especially knowing George wanted nothing more than to see the two back together and that was the main reason she found herself huddled into a booth at the back of the Three Broomsticks, an odd spot for him to pick but inconspicuous as well.

She spotted him easily, his shocking red hair sticking out amongst the bar patrons, not to mention his fuchsia robes, he was grinning ear to ear at her.

"Hey there Hermione."

She stood accepting his hug and sloppy kiss on the cheek. He also patted her stomach affectionately and then sat down in the seat across from her grinning expectantly.

"Well…"

"Well what?" She questioned.

"Fred is dating."

"What!" She spluttered, spitting out the sip of water she had just taken, "Why are you smiling?"

"Because darling, this makes winning him back that much more interesting."

Hermione sighed, "No George."

"Whattya' mean no!"

"I can't do this George. I have Gideon and Oliver to think about, I can't do this."

"Oliver, that's the name huh?"

She smiled, "Yes. It was always my favorite name for a boy. Oliver Thomas Weasley. Oomph," she rubbed her belly tenderly, "he's a kicker."

George laughed, "Thatta' boy. So what now, we just don't discuss Fred?"

"Precisely."

"Well ok then."

"I told her you're dating."

"YOU WHAT?"

"You should've seen the look on her face."

After lunch, George had returned to work to find Verity holding down the front while Fred was "developing" in the back, flowery phrasing for doing nothing.

"Why in the hell would you do that?" Fred asked grumpily, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Wanted to see if she would fight for you. And I never really liked Fleur's cousin that much. Thought I can't blame you, most girls are age our married cause of that damn law aren't they? But the French are tricky, especially this Ines character."

Fred slunk back in his chair, eyeing his brother warily, "She's bloody gorgeous and Hermione doesn't want me anyway."

"Au contraire brother, the look on her face said quite the opposite."

"Stuff it George."

George's face grew serious, "Fine. If you want do it for yourself do it for Gideon and Oliver, you're their father Fred and she's their mother, they deserve to have you two together."

"Oh is that why you're still married to Ang then?"

George lunged towards his brother, fisting the collar of his robes, "Oi watch it mate, this has nothing to do with Ang and me."

Verity appeared in the doorway, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, "Fred, Ines is here." She scampered away as quickly as she came.

George released his brother, turning away as Fred slipped out of his robes and brushed past him, "You're making a mistake."

"She left me."

"You were being controlling."

"Whose side are you on?"

George's shoulders fell defeated as he watched Fred disappear into the storeroom. He had tried anyway.

Ines was 5 feet, 10 inches of blonde goddess. She was like a more heaven sent version of Fleur and she was completely enamored with Fred Weasley.

They had met the day after Fred's disastrous dinner date with Hermione and had been joined at the hip since. Her English was poor and that was fine by Fred, it was her looks he was interested in.

They spent every night at her hotel, she was visiting her cousin indefinitely and Fred didn't want her in the apartment he had once shared with Hermione.

His wife. Thoughts of her were nagging him as he watched Ines pour them each a glass of wine. It had been nearly a week since George had gone to lunch with Hermione and he hadn't heard a word about her since. In fact, he hadn't heard a word from George since their fight. The silence at work was deafening and if not for Ines, he would have gone mad.

Fleur had let it slip to the others that he was dating Ines and nobody was talking to him.

"Iz somezing wrong?" The tall blonde asked, handing him a glass.

He shook his head, taking a swig, "No love, but things would be so much better if you would take off that dress."

"Frederick, you are so bad." She said with a wink, setting down her glass, "help me with ze buttons?"

He left Ines's hotel late that night, wandering the streets of London aimlessly. His head was buzzing from the wine and he didn't want to go home. Normally he would have stayed with her but that didn't seem right either.

He found himself in the tube station, studying the circuit schedule with bleary eyes. With resolution he boarded the last train of the night, sitting in the back away from the few other passengers.

It was a bad idea and he knew it but he couldn't help himself. The walk from the station was longer than he remembered and it was well after midnight when he finally found himself on the front stoop, ringing the doorbell against his better judgement.

Shuffling inside and then the door opened. She looked the same as last time he had seen her, a diminutive woman, face still fresh despite her age, her curly hair pulled away from her face and her arms holding a pink bathrobe tightly around her frame.

"Fred, what are you doing here?"

"Hullo Mrs. Granger. Is Hermione home?"

He pushed past the flustered woman looking up the stairs to where he knew Hermione was sleeping. He made to go up them but was stopped by a tug at his arm.

"She's sleeping Fred. Go home and you can see her in the morning."

"It's important Mrs. Granger."

"Fine, go sit in the dining room and I will go get Hermione. If Robert knows you're here there will be hell to pay."

Fred complied, tiptoeing into the dining room to wait for Hermione. He half expected her to refuse to come down, then again she wasn't a teenager anymore, she was a mother, a young one, but a mother still.

"Fred what are you doing here?"

He turned, only her outline visible in the darkness, "Hermione."

"Do you have the papers already then?"

"The what? What? No, no, I just, I had to see you."

"Why?"

"I miss you. I love you."

"I know, I read the letter. How's your girlfriend?"

"Come home with me."

"She wouldn't like that."

"Fuck her! I don't care about her, I care about you, I love you!"

She shook her head, "I'll think about it."

"Really?"

"Gideon misses you and Oliver should know his father. That doesn't mean we will be together, but we could live together."

"Hermione, please."

"Go home Fred, go to bed. Come by tomorrow morning and we can move my stuff back in."

"Thank you." He reached for her but she shrunk away.

"Goodnight Fred."

He watched her disappear, well it was a start.