Chapter Song: No Good- Kate Voegel

It has actually been way too long, I apologise, really.

Flashback at the end, sexual references, nothing major really.

"You bloody-" Ron lurched forward to grapple me, but only to be deflected by a swift protego charm.

Hermione stood next to me, her eyes frantic and wand raised. I had flattened himself against the storage shelving, willing myself to suddenly gain the ability to slide into the floor. But I did not have that ability, unfortunately. It was careless of us really, anyone could of walked in on us kissing. That was the worst part, anyone could of but of course it had to be him. We had been dancing in an innocent way initially, like we would of as friends, but the chemistry had sizzled too intensely between us and we knew we needed to hide away. It was rare for Ron to be so late to a party, so both of us had assumed that he was not going to show up for some reason. Ron's eyes were wild as he glared at me from the other side of the protective shield. But beyond the anger was betrayal and hurt. I knew I had hurt him badly by this.

"Ron mate-" I began, holding my hands up in a worldly recognized sign of seeking peace.

He snorted wildly, his ears going to such a shade of crimson it looked painful. "Don't you dare call me mate"

"Okay, Ron then" I said, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes or to hex him, or both. "We were going to tell you-"

This was apparently the wrong thing to say, or perhaps there would never be the right thing to say with this. I dared to sneak a quick glance at Hermione. She had composed herself somewhat from the fear she was displaying before, but she still looked faintly alarmed. This was enhanced by her hair still being slightly messy, despite her discipline with it, from our heated kiss which had started all this. However, mostly she appeared to be calculating what would be the best thing to do. Hermione's mind was always working, always thinking of the next move. Some would see it as cold, calculated, unfeeling but those who knew her knew it was simply due to having an advanced mind.

Ron started to go crimson across his entire face now, and I knew that if it was safe enough to touch it, it would be red hot. "Oh well that's even better"

Neither of us answered, even Hermione looked confused.

A breath of hysterical laughter escaped his taut lips, shrill and piercing. "Wow, Hermione? Not getting it? Merlin's beard" he started the laughter again, not a hint of real amusement on his face. "I would rather this was some desperate grope in the cupboard"

Hermione hissed and her shield dropped momentarily, before I lightly touched her hand, in warning, and she raised her wand again to cast another protego charm.

His eyes rested on the tiny touch of my hand on hers, and his mouth twisted in dissatisfaction. "But clearly this little affair has been long drawn out"

"Affair Ronald? What "affair"? You and I are not together, well we were not ever together really were we?" Hermione said angrily, bristling next to me.

I let out a sigh, this exchange was reminding me far too much of the constant bickering they indulged in as friends which would always escalate into the sort of row I was facing now. But this time it had good reason.

"So are you just trying to brush over the obvious fact that it was going on while we were sleeping together? Or when Harry was married?"

Anger flared in me this time, I had intended to come out of this with peace and to wait until he had settled down. I was not stupid enough to believe that this would be settled simply, but rowing was not what I wanted to do. But the throwaway comment he gave was unacceptable, trying to suggest I had been just as deceitful whilst married was below the belt. Ron's expression gave away that he knew that deep down, but he was not backing down. This time, he wouldn't get away with saying those sort of comments.

"How dare you, how dare you suggest I cheated on your own sister! What a shitty thing to say, i actual value marriage vows"

That comment hit home, with a nasty smile on his face, Ron looked at me and said in an equally nasty voice. "Well maybe I should go see what she thinks of this red hot romance you have going on here"

Ron left the room, with a businesslike expression crossing his face. I heard George shout asking whether he had got more butterbeer, then with a jolt I heard his mother speak to him.

"Ronald, what's wrong?" she said, sounding just as worried as Hermione and I about the shade his face had turned.

"Harry and Hermione. Snogging in the cupboard. Having a little affair" he spat out, loudly, and I could assume most of the room heard him.

Turning to Hermione, my mouth was agape in shock at him blurting it out to everybody. Hermione however, looked quite upset, she was forcing herself not to cry, her hand clutched against her mouth. With a sigh I turned her to face me and held her against me, in a way you might comfort a child, holding her head in my hand and pressing my lips to the top of her head. After a short while I pulled myself away, with an apologetic look in my eyes.

"I need to go talk to Ginny before he does, right now I'm sure he's fielding the many questions of the people in the room" I explained, pulling myself gently away.

"Yes I can hear him" Hermione said, in a quiet voice, using her wand to straighten out her appearance.

"Do you mind? Will you be okay with...everyone?" I asked tentatively.

She nodded her head, dangerously close to tears again and I understood that it would probably be best for me to leave her for a while anyway. My only worry was how she would cope alone at the party, which would no doubt be full of angry relatives of Ron. Especially Mrs. Weasley, who still had not properly forgiven her for not marrying Ron. But I knew, the sooner I spoke to Ginny, the sooner I could return to Hermione.

So with one last look at her I disapparated, reappearing outside Ginny's cottage on the outskirts of Devon. Even in my bitter days I had to admit that it was a nice place for the children to spend their summers. It was by the beach and the sea, and was the sort of beach cottage that even had shells around the door. Hastily I cast an Anti-Apparition charm on the surrounding area then approached the door. With a deep breath I knocked on the door, the wood soft underneath my knuckle.

Dean opened the door, shock crossing his face at the sight of me. He was still wearing the trousers from his dress robes, his hair however had abandoned the sleek debonair look he had chosen earlier and his shirt was off, flaunting the irritatingly defined muscles..

"Dean, is Ginny there?" I asked abruptly, an unintentional sneer on my face at his lack of clothing on his upper body, feeling a little guilty as I saw his face fall. I knew how much my few chosen sentences that were almost friendly had meant a lot to him, and now I was back to speaking to him only to speak to Ginny. I knew I should actually feel quite bad, but at the urgency of the moment- I could not.

He stepped aside to let me cross the threshold of the house, and at the action I swiftly raised my wand and fixed the anti-apparition charm inside the house. Dean tensed as I raised my wand but in a defeatist attitude, walked to presumably knock on the bedroom door to bring Ginny back. I stood somewhat awkwardly, with less fire burning, as I listened to their whispered argument a few rooms away- Ginny's voice as harsh as wasps and Dean's low and pleading. Apparently the pleading won out as moments later Ginny emerged, in a silky and slightly too short dressing gown, with an irritated look on her still made up face, her hair out of it's elegant style.

"What?" she snapped, striding over to the still open front door to slam it shut.

I recoiled involuntarily, then regained control. "Good hostess skills"

Ginny was clearly seething, her arms folded tightly across her chest and her expression tight. It was at that point that I remembered what I had come to tell her, and flinched slightly as I realised I had more likely than not made it worse for myself. She chose not to reply and chose to merely stare at me with unrestrained anger.

"Look this isn't really a social call, I wasn't planning on staying. More informing then leaving" I said, sighing, accepting that we were past pleasantries by now, and she was clearly in the middle of getting ready for bed and I was no doubt in the way.

"Good"

"Right," I started, ringing my hands and focusing very hard on the intricate shapes of the carpet as I prepared to speak. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Dean attempting to hide behind the door but listen, curiosity clear on his face. Ginny let out a loud sigh, her foot tapping impatiently on the floor. "I'mseesomemione"

Raising my head I was met by an expression of total confusion for a moment, which made a refreshing change from the mask of anger/pain/hatred that was usually reserved for me. I realised in that moment, that I had once again failed to string my words into a coherent sentence.

I took a deep breath, and tried again, slowly this time. "I am seeing someone" deep breath again "I'm seeing Hermione, Ginny"

Ginny smiled for a moment, but then that turned into a malicious laugh, then a slap.

xox

The weekend had arrived at Hogwarts, and I sat miserably in my office, marking essays. My eyes flickered up to my photograph of Ginny on my desk, smiling back at the moving Ginny from our wedding day. Absentmindedly I played with the band on my finger, trying to distract myself. I missed her terribly when I was at Hogwarts, I tried to get home as often as possible. I was supposed to this weekend but Ginny was going to be away that weekend, writing for the Prophet's quidditch section. I had protested that there were no league matches scheduled that weekend, but she had insisted that it was a minor team hoping to break into the big leagues. Our marriage had been shaky the past few months, we weren't arguing but there was no passion there anymore. She hardly looked at me, touched me. I felt like she was avoiding me.

Gazing out the window at the setting sun, I decided to try and find a better form of distraction. I decided to head to The Three Broomsticks. Grabbing my cloak I headed out towards Hogsmeade, Ginny still very much on my mind. The pub was very busy when I arrived, and I dived for the last remaining barstool. I sank into it with relief, and flagged down Rosmerta who treated me with her usual bit of banter and pint of beer. I took a deep inhale, smelling the alcoholic release and letting it flood my taste buds. More and more flooded down me and I lost more and more touch of myself. When I emerged from the glass I was treated to an unusual scent of cheap perfume and cigarettes.

"Harry" the woman whispered, looking roughly around my age with heavy makeup and a shock of dark hair.

I examined the woman as best I could through alcohol tainted eyes, recognising her in a vaguely familiar way. The loud, wannabe-seductive voice was familiar to me. To some extent I found her attractive, the base beauty was there, but it was covered by the tackiness and cheapness. I was fairly certain the alcohol was clouding my judgement but I allowed it, the loneliness getting the better of me.

She stared at me, drunk herself but looking quite indignant that I had not recognised her. "It's me, Romilda Vane"

I nodded in recognition then slurred. "Rolinda, I remember you"

With a look of a predator catching her prey, Romilda- or Rolinda- Vane smiled at me, and passed me a drink.

That was the last bit I could remember up until I found myself round the back of The Three Broomsticks, where Rosmerta let her cat out of a night, where the smokers went. I was backed up against a wall, Romilda Vane was finishing her cigarette, stubbing it out on the wall and tossing it carelessly onto the slabs of paving laid carelessly to form some sort of patio. She turned round to place herself against me, sticking out her breasts and looking at me under her eyelashes. She forced herself onto me, her cigarette smell coming closer and closer until she had forced her open mouth onto mine, her tongue invading my mouth. Shock held me there initially, then attraction, loneliness and alcohol kept me there. I should of pushed her off straight away but I couldn't quite, until she moved my hand up her short skirt, which her cloak hand covered. I then discovered that this particular day she had forgotten her knickers.

That discovery sobered me up instantly, and I pushed her off, wiping her slippery lipstick off my mouth. I smelt my hand with a frown, discovering a less than pleasant smell. Then I ran. Without any explanation I ran away from her, realising in that moment who I wanted to see, that I wanted to try and make it work. I had loved Ginny more than my own life once and I wanted that back more than anything. Producing a bouquet of flowers I disapparated, reappearing at Potter College. I walked purposefully, yet quietly, through the door. I wanted to surprise her, because I knew the actual chances of her actually being at work were slim. Creeping towards the bedroom, I quietly opened the door. There was movement in the bed, I smirked slightly as I saw her, naked and writhing in pleasure. Perhaps she was dreaming of me? Then a head appeared from under the cover.

"Shit" I shouted, throwing down the flowers and lighting the lights with my wand.

"Harry" she said weakly, shock and guilt crossing her face.

"Hey Harry" came the voice of Newt Scamander, from the naked body which was lying on top of my wife.

A/N I was going to make the couple in the cupboard a different couple then he see Harry & Hermione somewhere else in the party but that would be too cliche for me.