Stumbling into Harry's living room, Hermione was met by a confused Harry. "Mione? Mione what's wrong?"
"Ron...Lavender...I.I.. can I stay here for the night?"
"You know you are always welcome here Mione. What do you mean Ron and Lavender? Did he...No..." shock overtook Harry's face.
"Harry who is...Hermione? What happened?-" Before she could finish her question Harry was in the floo calling out the address of her shared flat with Ron. "Harry wait! Bloody hell! What is going on Mione? Why is Harry in such a rage?"
Taking a deep breath Hermione willed herself to pull herself together. Pulling her eyes from the fireplace she looked at Ginny and told her what she found when she came home after leaving her only minutes prior. Throughout her retelling Ginny's face morphed from confusion to disbelief before settling on anger. When her story was over the floo activated again and Harry stepped out furious.
"I can't believe him!" he ranted as he began to pace in front of the couch, "Despicable! How could he do that to you?! With Lavender no less. No that's not the point. I can't believe him!"
"So it's true?" Ginny asked shooting an apologetic glance at Hermione and recovering with, "Not that I think you're lying Mione."
Deflated she fell into the nearest chair waving her off. "It's fine Gin. I understand, he is your brother."
"Yes it's true Gin! I got there just as they were finishing!" Pain struck Hermione's chest as she realized the implication behind Harry's statement. They had continued, even though she walked in on them, even after Ron attempted to get her to understand. His lack of respect for her was what hurt the most. They were supposed to be friends, before they were ever lovers and yet he could betray her without so much as a care knowing it hurt her. Closing her eyes she continued to listen to Harry rave. "I couldn't help myself, Mione, I punched him. For him to just continue on after that, like he didn't care in the world! He even tried to tell me it was a mistake but ugh!"
"Harry..."
"I can't believe him. How could he do that to you Mione? I thought he loved you?"
"Harry..."
"You don't do that to someone you love!"
"Harry!"
Shocked, he stopped his rambling and looked at his best friend noticing for the first time that her eyes where closed and her cheeks were stained with the tears that betrayed her. Finally she opened her eyes and looking between a furiously red Ginny and a very frazzled Harry who had come to kneel in front of her. His hair was sticking out more then normal telling her that during his rambling he'd been continually running his hands through his hair. "It's okay. Really Harry, I knew something like this would be coming soon. Maybe not this exactly but our relationship was all but over already."
"Still, Mione he-"
"Harry please, thank you for sticking up for me. For being so mad. I love you for it but right now I just want to go lie down. I need to start looking for flats tomorrow."
"Stay as long as you need. You know you are welcome here." Turning to follow the quiet tone of her best friend she gave Ginny a hug before saying a quiet thank you and retreating with her bags into the hallway.
Watching Hermione disappear down the hall Harry turned to his wife who had sunk into the couch with disbelief still etched on her face. "Gin, I can't...I really can't believe he did that too her."
"I know love, me either. I want nothing more than to go hex him but for now I think the broken nose you gave him is enough."
"She's doesn't seem as hurt as I would have expected."
"You heard her, she knew this was coming. And from our last few talks I'm not either. Their relationship was falling part. Not that this was okay! Just wait until mum finds out."
Chuckling despite himself, Harry kissed his exhausted wife and started leading her to their room. "How'd you know I broke his nose?"
Ginny snorted, "Please."
Walking into the kitchen Hermione was shocked to find Ginny sitting at the table reading the Daily Prophet. It had been 2 days since Hermione came home and found Ron with Lavender and she hadn't left the safety of the Potter residence since. But today she knew she needed to put herself back together and go to work because she had a stack of documents that needed her attention. Which is why she found herself in the Potters kitchen so early. Ginny being up this earl was a surprise or it would have been if Hermione didn't catch her attempting to hide the Daily Prophet the moment she walked into the kitchen.
"I take it Skeeter found out?" she said absently as she reached for a coffee mug.
"Yes. I'm sorry Mione, I don't know how."
"It's fine, it was bound to happen eventually," she waved it off. "But don't worry about it, I need to go to work. Can you tell Harry I won't be able to have lunch with him today, I'm going to be looking at some flats during my lunch hour."
"Of course. And Hermione?"
She halted in the doorway and looked back at her friend, "Yeah?"
"Don't forget to take care of yourself today."
"Thank you Gin." Going back into the kitchen she gave her a swift hug before making her way to the floo.
Leaving the green flames Hermione made her way to her office trying hard to ignore the stares and the looks of pity she got as she walked through the halls. Making her way into her department Hermione she was relieved to see Olivia hadn't arrived yet. Silently thanking Merlin, she slipped into her office shutting the door as quietly as possible. Despite Olivia not being there she noticed a large pile of letters that weren't there on Friday evening, the pile much larger than what would normally be there after a weekend. With a heavy sigh she sat behind her desk and started sifting through the letters. Opening the first she recognized it as an invitation for courtship almost immediately and scoffed as she tossed it down and reached for another only to find that it too was a courtship letter. She pushed away from her desk with a scowl and transfigured her coffee mug into a box before sweeping all the letters into it with the swift flick of her wand.
Hours later she emerged from her office with the box of letters and was greeted by a sympathetic looking Olivia.
"Olivia, thank goodness, I need you to do me a favor and go through these", she bumped the box up from her hip for emphasis, "and get rid of all the courtship invitations. I don't have the energy for them today."
"Of course, Ms. Granger." The younger witch stood to take the box from Hermione, "Do you want me to do the same with these as well?" Glancing down Hermionesaw what Olivia is referring to; a second box filled with letters that all looked to be address to her.
She gave Olivia a muted nod and said her thanks before retreating back into the safety of her office. When lunch came she attempted a trip into Diagon Alley for a quick sandwich and the intent to look at a flat but she was completely unnerved by the time she paid for her food. Instead she returned to the ministry all thoughts of looking at a flat forgotten.
When Hermione returned to the Potters house that night she was utterly drained. Much to her surprise she was met by Harry and a glass of wine when she came through the floo.
"Hi," she offered weakly as she dropped onto the couch next to him. He lifted his arm as soon as she sat down and she slipped into his hug taking the offered glass of wine when he handed it to her. Harry always knew, she never had to say anything, he just knew.
"Hey. Did you find any flats that you liked?"
"Oh Merlin's balls! I totally forgot about flats.."
"It's okay Mione, you don't need to do it immediately you know."
"You guys have the baby on the way, I don't want to be burden you. I swear I intended to go, I just got sidetracked."
"You could never be a burden and you know it!"
Chuckling into his shoulder she smiled for the first time that day. "Gods Harry, today was horrible," she whined, "I expected to get attention after the article in the Prophet but not the amount of stares I got today when I ventured out for lunch. It was actually worse than our 4th year love triangle. Not to mention the courtship letters! It was appalling."
Harry leaned back to look at her face, "Courtship letters?"
"Yes! 57 formal invitations for courtship! All waiting for me when I came in to my office today."
He laughed, "I hope you sent them all Howlers." He was barley able to get the words out between gasps for air.
Getting up, still laughing she smacked his arm "Oh hush you. I didn't tease you about your fan clubs!"
"Yes you did!" he pointed back at her, stealing her wine glass he took a sip. "Let me know if you want help and I'll join you okay?"
"Thank you Harry," she gave him a kiss on the cheek before standing, "We should both head to bed." Sending her near empty glass to the kitchen she smirked at the whine he emitted seeing the remaining alcohol leave the room, "Goodnight."
