A/N: I still don't own Harry Potter.

Word count: 903

She threw herself on the bed and cried until her eyes were raw and empty. At that point, she sat up, cleaned her face and tried to figure out what to do. Ron would be home at some point. She made her way to the kitchen, looked to see if there was a note. There wasn't. She tried not to think about Severus, about him kicking her out of his shop, of his life.

"He doesn't love you," she told herself. "Ron does, you love him," she added. Her mind decided following routine would keep her heart from breaking further. She started making lunch, using some left over chicken. Ron would be hungry when he got home. He'd always liked her chicken salad. Or at least he claimed he had.

Her hands moved of their own accord, chopping, mixing, assembling the meal. Her mind had gone blank, her heart had gone numb. There was nothing except this meal, this meal, and the next. That was how she'd cope. One meal at a time. She had to make them. Ron expected her to.

"Hermione? Are you back yet?" his voice called from the front door.

"In the kitchen. I've made lunch," she called back. She heard Ron toss his bag against the wall. She'd have to clean his uniform later. She was sure he'd been at practice, wasn't that where he always was? She tried not to think about that morning. He hadn't said where he was going, had he? She pushed the thoughts from her head and mentally started listing what she would need to make dinner.

"How did you know I wanted chicken salad?" Ron asked sliding into his seat at the table. She brought the sandwiches over.

"Lucky guess," she answered giving him a tentative smile. He nodded taking a bite.

"Good guess. I was thinking, it's been awhile since we've done anything together. I mean, I've been busy with practice and you've been... I don't know what you've been doing, but it doesn't matter. Tonight, I'm going to take you to meet the team."

"That sounds great," she answered thinking that what she'd been doing, more like who she'd been doing, did matter. She wasn't about to admit it though. "Does that mean I don't need to make dinner?" she asked.

"Exactly, the team's hosting a party, I know it's last minute, but that's how things go sometimes. You still have that blue dress?"

"Which one? I have several. You keep saying my eyes look amazing in blue." Ron laughed.

"They do, 'Mione. They really do. The dark blue one, the one that looks like sapphires, that you wore for the ministry party last year?" Hermione nodded. She knew which dress he was talking about. At least it was fairly modest. She wasn't really sure she wanted the whole team seeing her cleavage.

"Yes, it's in the closet, is that the one you want me to wear tonight?"

"Yes, since it'll be in our team colors." Hermione nodded remembering the team colors for the Krusaders were blue and yellow. Hermione mentally made a note to find a gold necklace to go with the dress. She was sure she had something that would work. She'd never really given much thought to accessorizing, but she was sure Ron would be happy she took the time.

"And what will you be wearing? Your uniform?" she asked.

"Of course, how else will everyone know I'm part of the team. Speaking of which, do you think you can do a refreshing charm on before then? It's starting to smell a little, guess that's part of practice though." She nodded mentally going over the charm. She was glad she could remember all of them. Ron had finished eating.

"I'm going to go over some paperwork from the ministry, you know stuff that's still left from before. I'll be in my office, don't disturb me until four." She nodded. She had plenty to keep busy with until then. She watched him disappear and wonder, for the first time, if she even actually loved him. She quickly forced the thought from her head. Severus didn't love her, he never would. Ron did, she needed to learn how to be happy with what she had. She sighed and picked up Ron's bag. The smell of perfume assaulted her nose. She sneezed loudly.

"Well, that's a stupid way to cover the scent of sweaty Quidditch robes," she muttered resolving to give the whole bag a thorough cleaning. "Might need more than just a refreshing charm," she added carrying it towards the laundry room. There would be enough time to give everything a proper washing if she didn't have to have things done before four.

She shoved the uniform in the washer, glad she'd insisted on some muggle devices. A piece of paper fluttered to the floor. She picked it up figuring she'd see a training schedule, instead the paper was covered in swirly cursive writing, she couldn't read more than a few words. She shoved it back in the bag. It was none of her business, probably just a list of moves and how to do them. Her heart ached, but she ignored it. Severus didn't want her, she reminded herself. Ron was here, Ron loved her, Ron wouldn't... do anything to hurt her. She sank against the washing machine and started sobbing. How had things become such a mess?