April 2004

"Ronald! I'm home, would you like to order take out! How does Chinese sound?" Hermione called out just as she shrugged off her coat and hung it one of the pegs by the door, setting her bag down on another.

She rolled her shoulders back trying to work out the knots there. Bundling her hair at the top of her head, wand right in the middle, she quickly made her way towards the bedroom.

"Ronald, did you hear me?" She called out again in annoyance. How hard could it be to answer; if he was ignoring her again she was definitely going to hex him this time. Once seated on her bed Hermione sighed loudly, removing her heels from her tired feet. If only she had chosen to be a healer instead - she wouldn't have to wear these devil shoes day in and day out.

Wiggling her free toes, she made her way out of the room in search of Ronald. Once at the doorway of the living room she caught sight of him: hunched forward, head in his hands.

Keeping her frustration in check she crossed her arms in front of her chest and said, "Ronald I've been calling out for you, why haven't you answered me?"

He remained unmoving, as if he hadn't heard what she'd said.

"Ronald." She called out to him again; this wasn't normal. Hermione felt her stomach drop slightly. Slowly she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Ron, are you alright?" She asked apprehensively.

No response. With her hand still on his shoulder she moved over to sit next to him. He remained still, unaware of her presence. Or so it would seem, if it weren't for the visible tension in his shoulders and back.

"What's wrong honey?" She asked, the worry starting to coil in her chest. "I'm-I'm so sorry." He voiced louder, his voice breaking softly as a sob broke through.

She couldn't fathom what was wrong. The panic and worry was now making it just a bit harder for her to breath; she had to calm down. There had to be an explanation for this. Closing her eyes for a second she pushed away the oncoming horrific ideas from her mind.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione pulled away from Ron and stood up, taking a few steps away from him. She wasn't exactly sure why she felt the need to distance herself, but it made her feel better, breathing had become easier.

"Ronald." She demanded lightly, the anxiety making her pick away at her cuticles. He continued to ignore her.

"Tell me what you're apologizing for exactly." She pressed, her patience running out.

Ronald shook his head in response; his guilt, it appeared, wasn't even allowing him to look her in the eye.

"Ron answer the bloody question, please." She whispered agitatedly. Glancing down at her hands she realized she was about to draw blood from all her picking and quickly crossed her arms in front of her chest, hugging herself as tightly as possible.

"It's never been my intention to hurt you I- I- I desperately hope you know that Hermione." He rasped out, agony and grief evident in his tone. He slowly looked up at her, not looking her directly in the eyes. He just couldn't make himself.

"Her- her name's Rebecca Lissoie. We-we met a couple months back at one of Ginny's practices. Hermione it was never my in-"

"Shut up." She whispered, shock slowly seeping through her body.

Of all the things he could possibly do, this was not one she had ever fathomed, to cheat and for months without realizing he was doing it. How stupid could she be not to realize it? She began to feel her bottom lip quiver and the tears start to well up in her eyes, she desperately wanted to let them out, but no, she wouldn't let him see her cry.

Not again.

Before she could even process her thoughts she heard herself say mournfully,

"Why?"

"I didn't mean to, it was never planned –I –We –I don't know." He said having returned his stare to the floor.

"It wasn't planned? You didn't mean to? Lots of bloody self-restrain you've got there then, don't you Ronald? How could I have been so bloody stupid? This was your goddamn idea in the first place. To get back together again– to work things out after how they ended–NO after how YOU ended them 5 years ago, all because you wanted to 'take a break' to get some space, to sleep with any bimbo thatcaught your fancy. Oh I could – Argghh I am so bloody stupi–

"She's–She's pregnant." He cut her off.

Hermione abruptly stopped pacing, her hands fell away from her unruly hair, her wand loosened it's grio on her wand.

Ron made to stand up and go to her.

"Dont! Just- just stay where you are Ronald." She whispered in anguish, raising her wand shakily. She desperately tried to control her sobs and her tears. Something like this couldn't possibly be happening to her, she didn't deserve this. She was a good person, she didn't deserve to have things end this way for the second time with someone whom she trusted and–and

… and loved.

Her blood began to boil, the anguish and despair rapidly being replaced by the rage building up inside her, she wouldn't let him see her like this, over her dead body. Clearing her face of all emotion she lowered her wand and turned away from him, quickly making her way to what used to be their bedroom.

"Not anymore" She muttered to herself determined.

With a wave of her wand her luggage landed open on top of the bed and with another one, much harsher than needed, her belongings began to fill them up. Reaching for her heels she quickly slipped them back on, closing her luggage and shrinking it.

Picking it she turned toward her door to see Ronald blocking the doorway.

"Hermione, please hear me out will ya?" He begged.

"Ronald move." She demanded, choosing to not answer his question.

"NO! Not until we talk about this." He shook his head profusely, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly.

She huffed and set her bags down.

"Talk about what, exactly? How you've been sleeping around with someone else and managed to knock her up, all behind my back? Oh sorry didn't realize my back was on your knife Ronald. We have absolutely nothing to talk about and we won't for a long time. Do you understand that? I'm leaving and you know what– I wish you the best with Rebecca you two obviously deserve each other." She gestured wildly with her hands.

Picking up her bags once again she said coldly, her voice clear of any emotion whatsoever.

"Goodbye Ronald."

Shoving him out of the way, she went to the front door got her coat and bag and made way to the floo.

"THE LEAKY CAULDRON." She called out and in an instant was gone, leaving behind the man she thought loved her as much as she loved him and the debris of what once was her heart.