Chapter Three; Final night, arrangements and dates.
That night Ron received a letter from Luna, delivered by a handsome brown barn owl.

Ron,

I know we decided for our date to be in four days, but would you be happy to meet at the Leaky Cauldron again? I would like to have breakfast together before we begin our day.

Luna

Ron made sure Luna's owl had been given water and a treat before he tied his own response to its leg and sent it on its way back;

Luna

Breakfast together sounds great. I'm looking forward to it!

And just who is your boyfriend? Is he famous enough for me to have heard of him?

Ron

He had been tempted to write more and ask if she was happy with her boyfriend, but he figured that Luna would tell him if she was unhappy, no need to pressure her.

Luna's response came back faster than Ron expected. Maybe she had been waiting for her owl to return, ready to respond?

Ronald,

His name is William Moseley, I don't know that the Wizarding world would have heard of him.

I do not know if he will be my boyfriend for much longer. We have been arguing a lot recently.

I really look forward to our breakfast date tomorrow.

Luna.

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His time at home was still horrible, with Hermione skulking around the house and trying to pretend that she wasn't drinking every night before she went to bed.

Ron knew that he should sleep in a separate bed, but he never had the guts to talk about it with Hermione. He was terrified that if he brought it up she would kick him out and he would have to move back to The Burrow. Which actually wasn't a bad idea, but he would then also have to tell his parents that he and Hermione had broken up and neglected to tell anyone.

Ron had to be careful not to think of his upcoming date with Luna, every time he did, he felt more nervous than he had in years. He made sure to keep himself busy with looking after Hermione, keeping as much wine away from her as possible and trying to figure out how to better look after her.

The night he and Hermione had planned to have sex for the final time together, Ron sets everything up the way that he knows always made Hermione excited during the time they were still happy together. He is determined for this to be their final night together, and then they would sit down together the next day and figure out their next move.

Ron and Hermione make their way upstairs together after dinner. Ron waits patiently for Hermione to come out of the ensuite, hopefully thinking that maybe, just maybe, she won't need to get herself drunk tonight before she joins him.

His heart sinks when Hermione emerges, already changed into lingerie and darts out the bedroom and downstairs. Ron doesn't stop her, as much as he knows that he should. A very selfish part of him wants just one more night of sex with Hermione.

He slowly lit the candles and put his wand down on his bedside table, sitting on the edge of the bed and fidgeting while he waited. Just as he was about to give up and just go to bed, the door knob finally turned. He stood up and he noticed that he wasn't nervous, or excited, he just wanted some release. He was already looking forward to when he could finish and get some sleep so that tomorrow's date with Luna would come quicker.

'There you are. I didn't think you would come.' Ron tried to sound positive as he observed Hermione. She wore a matching black bra and G-string set, showing off majority of her well-toned body. His eyes swept over her body once, and stopped at her breasts. He couldn't help but think how they were just a little too big. Luna's were just a little smaller, the right size for just fitting into his hands.

'I need this just as much as you do. I'm only human, Ronald.' Hermione spoke with thinly veiled disgust. Ron just didn't know who that disgust was aimed towards. He took a deep breath for courage.

'Tomorrow, neither of us are working. We will talk tomorrow, since we need to sort our shit out.' He paused to make sure that she had heard, continuing when she gave him a nod of agreement. 'For now then, come here.'

He had remembered Hermione had once told him that she liked it when he acted confident, and tonight was all about making her happy. Tonight they both needed this, they didn't want it, and they were both impatient for this to be finished. Ron was itching for tomorrow to come around quickly so that he could see Luna again.

Ron watched as Hermione placed her hand in his, and couldn't help but wonder how Luna's hand would look there. In his impatience Ron pulled Hermione towards him more roughly than he intended, and his hands wound up on her arms to steady her, before they slid down to rest on her arse.

Unbidden, another memory of Luna leapt into Ron's mind. Her dress swaying around her hips as she walked away from him. He could feel himself growing hard at just the thought.

'Place your hands on my chest,' Ron said, half hoping that he didn't sound too harsh. 'Now kiss me, Granger.'

Just before her lips met his, Hermione took a deep breath, and it was in that moment that Ron realized exactly how much she didn't want to be there with him.

He moaned in frustration. How had they let it come to this?

But, as stupid as he was feeling, all the blood in his body was pumping fiercely, mostly in his groin, but if he stopped this now, he wouldn't be able to sleep for a week.

His hands moved without his permission to Hermione's breasts, and again he caught himself thinking of how Luna's were smaller; hers would be just the right size for his hands.

Ron's hands ran over the lace that made Hermione's bra, and he shuddered slightly. He loved how lace looked but he loathed the feeling of it under his skin. He wanted soft, fleshy breasts he could sink into, not hard and scratchy bullshit.

Hermione deepened their kiss, but he pulled away, he pushed the lace down, pushing up her breasts and emphasizing them more. His mind wasn't on her lips anymore, but on the soft skin under his hands. His lips found one of her nipples, while his hand played with the other. Hermione pushed closer to him, her wordless permission to continue.

His free hand made its way down her body to where her G-string rested where his hand – he hoped - deftly tucked itself underneath to cup her. Ron was no longer thinking clearly. He pulled away from her soft breasts and looked at her. She was beautiful, and she was wet, but he knew that it wasn't him she really wanted.

They wanted to connect, but only physically. He moved away from her and lay down on the bed. When he looked back at her, she was looking confused, and he was frustrated with how glazed over her eyes were.

'Come fuck me.' Ron said, and watched as the confusion left her face and lust replaced it. In no time she had removed his sweat pants and her underwear; Ron almost cheered when the lace was carelessly thrown aside.

He gripped himself and waited impatiently for her to climb onto him. He knew that she loved to be on top, to be in control. It got her off faster. He groaned at the feeling of velvet encasing him, at the sight of her playing with her nipples.

He couldn't help it. He pulled her close. Faster. Bare skin felt so good. He flipped her, held her hands above her head. Faster. Buried his face between her breasts. Faster. He was so close.

'Come for me, Granger!' he panted, he needed her to come first. Tonight was about her. She clenched around him. He gave one more thrust.

Thank god she can't get pregnant. He thought as he came in her.

He rolled away from her and closed his eyes.

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Ron glared unhappily at his empty mug. He didn't want to be here. He wanted to be with Luna. But he hadn't brought up the conversation with Hermione yet. He needed to do that before he went to see Luna.

'We need to tell everyone the truth.' Ron said, glancing at Hermione nervously. He was walking on eggshells here, this particular subject always finished in an argument and Hermione drinking too much. Hermione was gazing into her coffee mug, seeming to have not heard him.

'Hermione?'

She finally looked up and met his gaze. He was relieved to find that she was not angry.

'No, Ron, I can't do that.' Hermione said, and Ron felt his face fall in disappointment before he could help himself.

'The sooner we tell the other, the better. We can't have another Christmas pretending to still be madly in love, it'll kill us, and whatever chance at friendship we've got left.'

'Then I'll go away somewhere.' Hermione spoke hopefully, but Ron could only shake his head. The thought of trying to find a good explanation that his mother would understand was terrifying. Molly would see straight through him immediately.

'Hermione, we're fuck buddies, we can barely stand each other anymore, as it is you have to get drunk before you can get anywhere near me!' he had to take a deep breath so that he wouldn't start yelling, but he felt a mad rush of grim satisfaction when Hermione hung her head at the mention of her drinking.

'We need to stop pretending, Hermione. We need to tell my family. We need to properly, finally, break up, live apart from each other. Maybe take a shot at being friends again, not be fuck buddies anymore!' he was on the verge of yelling when Hermione interrupted.

'Alright!' Hermione took a deep breath, 'I'll find a place of my own. But please, don't make me tell the others!' she said, tears forming in her eyes. Ron felt his heart melt a little, she was being a tad ridiculous, there was no way he could be the one stay.

'Hermione, this place is yours, remember? It's all in your name. It's me that needs to find a new place. And I'll tell everyone.' Ron took a fortifying breath, hoping that Hermione would agree to this. 'I'll tell them it's a mutual decision … and if they still want to talk to you, they need to owl you first. OK?'

Hermione's eyes lit up as she nodded. 'Thanks, Ron.' She seemed to think for a moment before continuing, 'You don't have to move out. We can split the house in half, cast silencing charms so we can't hear each other, maybe even make a second front and back door.'

Ron couldn't believe it. This was more than he could've hoped for. He'd been dreading the thought of having to find a new place and have to teach himself how to look after himself. At least this way he would have some support for Hermione.

He hoped.

'That sounds good. Much easier than trying to find another place, at the least.'

Hermione finished her coffee, picked up both of their mugs and took them to the sink.

'I'm heading to Diagon Alley to get some clothes and new books; did you want to come with me?' she asked nonchalantly. Ron felt his heart hammering, he knew he should tell her, but wasn't sure how to.

'I'll come with you part of the way, I'll be stopping at the Leaky Cauldron, I've … I've got a date today.' Ron watched Hermione's reaction carefully, and was surprised when her shock was replaced with joy.

'That's great, Ron! Do I know her?' Hermione said as she sat back down at the table.

'It's Luna Lovegood.' Ron could feel his face and neck growing red, but Hermione was laughing.

'Well, I hope you have a good time!' Hermione said, seeming to genuinely mean it.

Ron smiled, a laughing Hermione was far more than he would've ever hoped for.

'It's the first time I've been on a date since … since us, Hermione. Are you OK with it?'

'Ronald, we officially broke up three years ago. You're free to do as you please! Now, I'm getting my bag and shoes and I'll be ready to leave.'

Ron couldn't help but give her a huge smile before walking up the stairs with her. In their bedroom, Hermione spoke up again.

'Just don't bring her here, Ronald. Not until we've split the house and have everything sorted.'

'Of course, Hermione. I promise.'

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Ron was nervous for the entire bus ride to Diagon Alley. He was grateful for Hermione being there, she was speaking with him pleasantly for once, asking him about how me had met Luna, what she was up to, and what they had gotten up to together so far.

Their time together sped by, and before he knew it, they had arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. The nerves hit him hard, and he found he couldn't move from his seat. Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed Ron's ear, dragging him off the bus with him yelling, 'Hermione! Gerrof!'

He didn't even notice that Hermione had managed to drag him all the way into the pub until he was sitting in a seat at the bar. He looked up to say something scathing to Hermione, but instead found himself gazing into Luna's grey blue eyes.

'You kids have fun!' Hermione sang as she walked out the back door, leaving a red faced Ron with a serenely smiling Luna.

'So how was your morning?' Luna asked.