A/N Sorry for another long gap. Baby taking up lots of time. So I should have an update to the 'How to survive' story shortly. I had a litte bit of writers block on that one, but I think I have it under control. So I hope you like this next chapter. Happy reading and don't forget to review. Please...I live for them. lol

Separation

Ron was pacing the floor of the house he shared with his wife and kids. Harry kept Hugo at his house and hadn't owled Ron since he left. It was nearly dinnertime and Hermione still wasn't home. He was beginning to worry that Harry had been right when he said that she probably left and went to her mother's house.

"I screwed up big time." he muttered. He didn't want his marriage to be over. He just wanted his Hermione back the way she was. Change was not his forte. He walked around the kitchen, cleaning up the mess as he went. He did all the dishes, all the laundry and all the chores he could think of before cooking dinner and hoping that Hermione would be home to share it with him.

In the meantime Hermione was lying in bed next to Draco. Her mind was coming down from their most recent interlude. Draco's fingers were twirling her hair gently as she listened to his steadily beating heart. She knew that she should be leaving soon but it was getting harder and harder to leave him and go home.

"It's getting late." he said casually.

"I know." she sighed.

"Do you have to go?" Draco asked hoping the answer was no, but knowing it would be yes. He wondered what it would be like to wake up with her next to him.

"Not if I can owl my parents and Harry." she said. Her desire to stay with him was winning out over her reluctance to go home and fight with Ron.

"My owl is here. Potter won't recognize it?" he asked.

"Crap. You're right. I'll just have my parents call him on the phone and tell him to bring Hugo over if he's still there."

"Call him on the phone? Oh right, that thing you talk into. I've used one before." he said proudly.

Hermione giggled.

She wrapped a sheet around her torso and found a pen and paper and began the note to her parents.

Mum and Dad,

I need to have a day or two to think. Ron and I had a huge fight. Harry and Ginny have Hugo. Can you call them and have them bring him to your house for a few days? If he went home already can you go pick him up? Don't ask Ron about what happened and don't tell him I'm not with you. Please, I just need to think.

Harry's number is 555-4355

Send a note back when Hugo is with you.

Love always

Hermione

Draco called his owl over and Hermione gave him delivery instructions. The deep raven owl flew out the window into the twilight sky.

"That should bide me a few days." she smiled.

"Are you serious?" he asked. He couldn't believe his good fortune.

"Yes. If it's okay with you."

All he could think to do was bend down and kiss her with all the strength he could muster.

"We'll stay here." he said when he pulled away from her embrace.

She nodded hoping she was making the right decision.

Hermione's parents, Richard and Katherine were having a quiet evening at home when an owl pecked at their living room window. Katherine didn't recognize the owl but she had learned long ago that having a witch for a daughter she needed to expect the unexpected. The deep black owl climbed onto their side table and held statue still for one of them to remove the note. Katherine opened it as the owl waited patiently for a reply. Her brown eyes scanned the note and she inhaled sharply.

"What is it?" Richard asked.

"It's Hermione. She and Ron had a big fight and she wants us to pick up Hugo from the Potters."

"Why isn't she doing it?" Richard wondered.

"She says she needs a couple of days to think. I hope they didn't fight in front of Hugo." she sighed.

"So let's go get him." Richard said. "I haven't seen my grandson in ages."

"I have to call first. Be patient." she scolded. "They might have already taken Hugo home to Ron."

Katherine picked up the phone and dialed the Potter's number. It rang three times before Ginny picked up.

"Hello?"

"Ginny? It's Katherine Granger. How are you?"

"Fine. What can I do for you?"

"Is Hugo still there?"

"Yes, I was beginning to get a bit worried that I hadn't heard from Hermione." she confessed.

"She just sent a note to us asking us to come get Hugo for her." Katherine said.

"Really? Why?"

"I guess her and your brother had a fight. She's coming to stay with us for a few days to cool off. They are both a couple of hot heads."

"Too true." Ginny admitted.

"So can I come get him? Does he have spare clothing there?" Katherine asked.

"A few days worth. Did Hermione say anything else?"

"No but she probably will when she gets to our house."

"Have her call or owl me, alright?"

"I will." Katherine said. "We will be there in half an hour or so."

"Okay. I will get him ready. Tell Hermione that things will work out."

"Thanks Ginny. See you soon."

Katherine hung the phone up and stood up to find a pen. She scribbled a quick note to Hermione letting her know that Hugo was still at the Potter's and that they were leaving to get him right now. And a stern warning that she had better stop by and explain what is going on tomorrow. She tied the note to the strange owl's leg and sent him off to wherever her daughter was.

Richard and Katherine arrived at Harry's house soon after. They had only been there a handful of times for birthday parties and always with Hermione and Ron. It felt odd to be there alone. Katherine rang the doorbell and heard Hugo running towards the door.

"Grandmum's here!" he shouted. Ginny walked up behind him and let the Granger's in.

"So what happened really Ginny? Harry has to know." Richard said harshly. Harry entered the room to welcome them.

"All I know is that they had a fight and Hermione went to the office to work. I don't really know what it was about." he lied.

"This isn't like our Hermione." Katherine said pursing her lips in thought. "It must have been pretty serious."

"Well she's stressed out about a new project at work. Most likely Ron did something stupid and thoughtless and it pushed her over the edge. She just needs some time to cool off." Harry said adjusting his glasses, something he did when he wasn't telling the truth. Ginny noticed but didn't say anything.

"Hugo get your things, you are going to spend a few days with grandmum and me." Richard said.

"Okay." Hugo said happily as he ran off down the hall to collect his things.

"Have you heard from your brother?" Katherine prodded Ginny.

"No." she said eyeing Harry again as he fidgeted some more.

"I don't like this whole thing." Katherine said. "It's not good for Hugo or Rose."

Hugo ran back in with a small bag of clothes and a few toys.

"Ready!" he said excitedly.

"If you hear from Ron or Hermione you'll let me know won't you?" Katherine said as they walked out the door.

"I will." Harry said removing his glasses completely this time.

"Bye." Hugo said waving at his cousin Lily. She waved back but looked sad at losing her only playmate. Ginny closed the door and stared her husband in the face.

"You have talked to Ron. Why did you lie? What did he tell you?" Ginny interrogated.

"Drop it Gin, you don't want to know." Harry sighed.

"I do want to know. This could end up being serious." she said loudly. "Lily, go to your room."

Lily screwed up her face to pout but went off anyway.

"It is serious." Harry said. "I think your brother had an affair last night."

Ginny's face turned bright red and her mouth dropped.

"What?" she said through her teeth.

"Hermione wasn't…uh…oh my gods I can't believe I'm going to say this about her…but she wasn't 'in the mood'." he said making quotes with his fingers.

"And?" she said.

"And Ron got mad about it and took off, went to a muggle bar and got drunk. He said a woman was flirting with him and he doesn't remember anything after that. He came home stinking of booze and perfume. And Hermione smelled it. So did I, when I was there. I gave him a lecture but I don't think it helped."

Ginny was already grabbing her bag and heading for the fireplace.

"Don't go there."

"Don't you dare defend him Harry James Potter. I am going there. And he will listen to me." she said defiantly.

Harry said nothing else as he watched his wife swoosh off into the emerald flames.

Ron heard the fireplace and once again assumed it was his wife. But before he could even call out her name his sister had entered the kitchen and was standing toe to toe with him looking up into his deep blue eyes.

"Ronald Weasley, you had better have a good explanation for putting your family in jeopardy."

"Ginny…" he stuttered. "I can't believe Harry told you."

"Hermione's parents picked up Hugo. They are going to stay there for a while." she yelled.

"She's staying at her parents?" he asked, swallowing hard.

"Yes. And I don't blame her if she leaves you. Cheating on her with some cheap tart you met in a bar. Don't you know what risk you put yourself and Hermione in? Let's not even mention the scandal, but the diseases muggles carry. How could you do that?"

"I don't even know what I did Ginny. I can't remember. I had a lot, and I mean a lot to drink. I remember talking to her. But that's it."

"Well I guess if you can't remember then that's alright then. Hermione should just forgive you right? You have got a lot of nerve Ronald. Just wait until mum hears about this." she said folding her arms.

"Ginevra, you had better not go running off to tell her." he said fiercely.

"You don't think that she's going to find out about this if Hermione ends up leaving you? And then she'll wonder why you didn't tell her? Rose and Hugo are a big part of her life. Especially Hugo now that most of the grandchildren are off at Hogwarts."

"I know." Ron sighed.
"So you need to tell her." Ginny said heading for the fireplace. "Or I will."

Ron looked like he was going to faint as Ginny left through the floo.

"Crap."

Draco was ordering dinner in as his owl returned with a note from her mother. Hermione grabbed a sheet and wrapped it around her body before fetching the parchment from the onyx colored owl.

Hermione,

We have Hugo. He was still at Harry and Ginny's. What is going on? Harry and Ginny wouldn't tell us anything. I'm not sure they were being entirely truthful. Please call me when you can so we can talk without all this silly owl stuff. I won't tell anyone where you are. I love you.

Mum

Hermione wrote back quickly on the same piece of paper.

Mum, I'm fine. I will stop by tomorrow so I can see Hugo. Kiss him goodnight. I love you too.

She sent the owl off just as Draco returned with a bag of Chinese food.

"News?" He asked.

"My parents have Hugo. I'm going to visit them tomorrow."

"That's good then. He's safe."

"Yeah, safe." she said watching the owl grow smaller in the distance.