The Music of Love Chapter 4, a harry potter fanfic

"Love in the Dark"

Please listen to Adele's Love in the Dark. Composers: Adele Adkins and Samuel Dixon. All lyrics within the fic are property of © Bmg Rights Management (UK) Limited, Melted Stone Publishing Ltd.

The kitchen clock read 3:45 am. Her third anniversary had come and gone, and he didn't remember. Hermione stirred her cup of tea slowly as she contemplated the last three years of her life. Next to the cup, a signed divorce agreement. She had a backup in her luggage. She was certain that her husband would tear it apart or set it on fire. Hermione felt like the world was crashing down on her. She hated to fail. This was, so far, the biggest failure of her life. The worst part of it wall was that her mother told her so. On the last conversation they ever had, Mrs. Granger had recriminated Hermione once more for what she did to her and her husband. Additionally, she had refused to attend her wedding. To Mrs. Granger, Hermione was stupidly settling for what was easy instead of what was right. Their relationship never improved because Mr. Granger was killed by a rebel faction in Australia that wanted to establish magic supremacy in the country. He died terrified, not understanding why they were torturing him, all alone, and believing he was Mr. Wilkins a dentist who had no daughter.

This wasn't the first time Hermione was left alone all night. She was used to the loneliness, and she hated that. In the first year of her marriage, she had been patient and held hope. Ronald didn't get drunk more than once a month and Hermione blamed his inability to cope with losing his brother. But then again, Hermione was mourning many people, including her father, but that didn't seem to excuse her from her duties as a wife. She still had to cook, clean, do laundry, and put up with his inattentiveness and his snarky, snappy remarks. Hermione was so embarrassed. Her 17-year-old self would have bitch slapped her into sanity. She had become what she swore she would never be: she became Mrs. Weasley.

It wasn't that she didn't love or admire Molly. She just never wanted to become her. Ron would guilt-trip her over every little thing she didn't do just like his mother. Suffice to say, he lost all attractiveness. No woman feels sexually attracted to a man-child she has to mother. Ronald wasn't even capable of making himself a sandwich. She had tried positive reinforcement. She had tried not doing any household chores as a protest. She had stopped any physical affection. Nothing helped. He had weaponized his incompetence against her. Early in their relationship, he had done things wrong so many times that Hermione had grown tired of redoing things and having him yell that nothing was ever enough for her.

What finally pushed Hermione over the edge to move out was that in their second year, she was sent to Scotland for work for a month and returned to a nightmare. When Hermione returned, the apartment was a pigsty. Actually, maybe pigs would do better. Takeout food containers and empty bottles littered the floors all over the place. All of Ronald's clothes were dirty and instead of washing them, he had bought new clothes. She had asked him to water her plants every other day but found them all dead. Even the orchid that Fleur had gifted her, and that Hermione had spent so long caring for was completely dead. The meals she had left were rotten in the fridge. The milk was spoiled. The sink was covered in dishes. There were cockroaches having a party on her expensive China and many cups were broken. Hermione felt that setting the apartment on fire was a better choice than cleaning it. What upset her most was that Ron didn't even have to clean the non-magical way and even then, he couldn't even do a couple of spells to improve things.

Hermione felt she was exaggerating because Molly kept telling her it was expected for men not to do household chores. That her son was raised to be a provider, not a homemaker. Hermione wanted to give her a snarky reply along the lines of "he can't do that either." But it wasn't going to help, and Molly was of a generation that accepted that was the way things were. Hermione was sick and tired of working full-time outside of the house and doing chores as if she was only taking care of her home. Most of Ron's paycheck went to alcohol and takeout or Quidditch. He had even taken money out of her purse to go get drunk and lately, to gamble. Hermione had moved out for a couple of months. Ron begged her to come back. He promised to change but that promise lasted at best a month and things took a turn for the worse.

Last Friday, Hermione had found a used condom in the trash. She was on the potion. They hadn't used condoms since they got married. What shocked Hermione the most wasn't that Ron had cheated on her. She had come to expect the worst. She just thought he would be at least smart enough not to bring whoever he was fucking to the apartment Hermione was paying for. It would have hurt her more if she had still been in love with him. He had killed her love in one swift punch. That Friday, Hermione had asked him about the discarded condom. He blew up and started accusing that she was to blame for his indiscretions. Great, it was more than once, she thought. When she voiced this to him, he turned around to face her, except she couldn't recognize him. He called her a fucking bitch and punched the wall next to her. Hermione had stayed at the Three Broomsticks that night.

Take your eyes off of me so I can leave
I'm far too ashamed to do it with you watching me
This is never ending, we have been here before
But I can't stay this time 'cause I don't love you anymore

The door to their apartment opened. A staggering redhead came inside, holding a bottle of firewhiskey. He squinted. Clearly, he expected the lights to be off.

"Hermione?"

"I only stayed until you got here because I wanted to see you prove me right."

"What?" Ronald slurred.

"You are too drunk to even speak properly. I am sure you spent most of your paycheck on alcohol and gambling."

"It is my money! Why do you care?"

"Maybe because I am paying for everything around here. The rent, the utilities, the groceries, everything comes out of my paycheck. You are a grown man and I refuse to be your mother any longer."

"Don't talk about my mother, you bitch!"

Ronald advanced on her as she tried to walk away from him, but he grabbed her and punched her in the mouth so hard that she had flown back and hit the back of her head against the wall. The pain was significant, and she felt her erratic heartbeat on her lips. However, the shock was far greater. Hermione couldn't even react. She never thought him capable of laying a hand on her. He gasped, realizing what he had just done as blood poured down her neck and white shirt. Hermione could barely breathe from the fright. She wanted to run, but she was terrified he would come at her again. Her face turned red with shame.

Please, stay where you are
Don't come any closer
Don't try to change my mind
I'm being cruel to be kind

"Hermione, love. I am so sorry. I didn't-"

Hermione pushed on the carpet with her feet to put herself as far away from Ron as she could. "Don't!" She warned as he took a step toward her. "You have touched me for the last time in your mediocre, pathetic, self-serving life. You are an alcoholic, a gambler, and a cheater, and I am DONE. You don't deserve me. You never did!"

I can't love you in the dark
It feels like we're oceans apart
There is so much space between us
Baby, we're already defeated
Ah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
Everything changed me

"Hermione, please!" Ron was crying like a child. "Don't leave me! I can't live without you, love!"

"Stay the fuck away from me!" She raised her wand with a pained grimace. She felt dizzy. "I am not your love. This marriage is over. I can't believe you would lay a hand on me. You need professional help. I feel so stupid. I have stayed for so long hoping that you would finally grow up and realize things. You gave me a family after I lost my own and that gratitude has kept me here longer than I should have been because I love them more than I ever loved you."

"P-Please don't go! I know I am a piece of shit... but I am yours and I can do better!" Ron held onto her legs, snot running down his nose.

Please, don't fall apart
I can't face your breaking heart
I'm trying to be brave
Stop asking me to stay

Hermione ripped her husband's arms away from her body with disgust. She summoned her wand and her beaded bag, and she left the apartment. Unbeknownst to her, the paparazzi that had followed Ronald home hadn't left yet. Before she knew it, camera flashes hit her from all directions. She couldn't apparate with a concussion. She called the Knight Bus. She explained what happened to Ernie who strapped her in and took her to a non-magical hospital. She was admitted under her mother's maiden name. She didn't want the magical press tracking her down and annoying doctors and patients.

When she was checked up, the ER doctor insisted on keeping her overnight because of the head injury.

"Do you want me to call anyone for you?" the Healer asked.

"No. I am all alone. Thank you," Hermione replied.

"Someone from the DMLE will be here shortly to take your statement," the Healer stated.

"Is that necessary?" Hermione frowned.

"Yes."

"Fine," Hermione fell asleep while she waited for the person who would interrogate her.

Her dreamless sleep turned into nightmares quite quickly. Ron hadn't just punched her. He had disrespected her throughout their entire relationship. He was too drunk to stand at their wedding reception. He had never given her a meaningful birthday or anniversary present. He didn't even remember. The distance between them started growing wider since they got married. Without any other people buffering their sharp edges and acting as a balancing force in their petty fights, they were at each other's throats more often than they had good or sweet moments. She knew that alcohol was the way Ron avoided facing reality, but the knowledge didn't ameliorate the situation. Hermione had tried everything she knew to help Ron with his addiction. But he didn't want to acknowledge the problem. His career was going nowhere because he was irresponsible and thought he could live off his war fame forever. None of the students that had a key role in the war had done that. All of them wanted the war as far away as they could keep it. They had all worked hard to prove themselves in times of peace.

Hermione had been so excited at the prospect of being a Mrs. But her expectations of an equal partnership came from her parents who had a solid marriage where they each contributed to the finances, the chores, and the responsibilities. Hermione wanted to become a mother, but she was terrified of doing that with Ron. If she couldn't count on him for something as simple as taking out the trash, she was certain she couldn't trust him with a baby. The doctor had asked her if she was pregnant. Hermione had been adamant that she wasn't. Not only was she on the potion, but she hadn't been intimate with Ron for over six months. Unfortunately for her, Ron had been switching her potion for drinkable vitamins and one night he added a sedative to her drink and forced himself on her. He was taking her as was his right. She was his property. If she refused to do it willingly, he had other ways.

The doctor woke her to tell her the news. She was about two months along. Hermione started to hyperventilate. When she started adding things up, she realized she had been raped by her husband and coerced into getting pregnant. She couldn't do this. She didn't want to. Having a child with Ron meant they would be in each other's lives forever. All she wanted was to close this book and start a new series. The nurse that came to give her some fluids let her borrow her cellphone. The phone rang a few times.

"Thank Merlin! Where are you!?"

"I am at St. Thomas,"

"What?! Never mind. I will be right there."

Harry was led into the room. His eyes betrayed his shock at her –she was sure- bruised and swollen face. Harry pulled her in for a hesitant hug. He didn't want to hurt her, but Hermione pulled him tighter to her. "He's in custody."

"What? I haven't pressed charges."

"You didn't need to. He gave himself up. He told us he had been tampering with your birth control and that he had raped you," Harry's hands were shaking with rage and Hermione noticed he was wearing magic-canceling bracelets. "There were pictures of you bruised and bleeding leaving your flat."

"Is he alive?" Hermione asked. She didn't want to imagine what Harry did to Ron when he found out.

"Yes. Barely, but he will pull through. I can't believe he did that to you."

Hermione started crying harder, "H-Harry... I... I j-just found out I am p-pregnant."

Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "Fuck. What do you want to do?"

"What do you think I should do?" Hermione asked Harry, her voice full of pain.

"Mione, I can't tell you that. All I know is that was your trust and your body that was violated by someone you should have been able to feel safe with no matter what. It is your body and your choice. All I can tell you is that I am here for you regardless of what you decide," Harry kissed Hermione's forehead.

"I can't believe I am even saying this, but I... I want to terminate. I don't want to be linked to him forever."

"I understand. Can you get the procedure here?" Harry asked with a blank expression.

"Yes. I have to. You know St. Mungo's would never allow it. I would need Ronald's permission," Hermione sighed.

Once the procedure was carried out, Harry insisted that Hermione should come home with him. He had bought a 3-bedroom penthouse apartment in downtown London. He had broken up with Ginny over a year ago. Ginny wanted to get married and start having kids and Harry was not ready for that. Hermione agreed to stay with Harry because her finances took a tumble. Before Ron went to the DMLE, he had trashed the apartment in another of his temper tantrums costing her eviction and ramping up ridiculous penalty fees. Harry helped her get new furniture and clothes that she insisted to pay back. He adamantly refused to accept money for rent. A few days later, Harry walked Hermione to the DMLE to get a restraining order. As they got into the office, Ronald was coming out. Harry had his wand trained on his former friend in half a second. Ron looked at Hermione and then down in shame. He offered a folder to Harry who took it with a frown.

"Head Auror, Potter. The accused wants to talk to you," the Auror pushing Ron stated. He had silenced the redhead.

Harry looked at Hermione and she nodded.

The Auror removed the silencing charm, "I know there is nothing I can say to-"

"There isn't. You punched me. You tampered with my birth control. You drugged me and raped me. That made you lose any right to ever talk to me again. Marriages fail every day. I did my best to be a good wife to you, Ronald. I really did love you, but you killed that love, and I am tired of walking on eggshells around a grown man who refuses to take accountability for his bullshit," Hermione said all this slowly. Her arm around Harry's putting enough pressure to ground him so he wouldn't attack Ron and give him pity points. "I have a right to live a good life with someone who will actually want to be there for me as a partner. Someone who will respect me, who will not cheat on me, who will not take me for granted."

Harry frowned when she said cheat. Fucking bastard.

We're not the only ones, I don't regret a thing
Every word I've said, you know I'll always mean
It is the world to me that you are in my life
But I want to live and not just survive

"I know. I am being put into an addiction treatment area of St. Mungo's while I go to trial. I hope it makes you happy to know that I have been front-page news every single day. Headlines read wife-beater, rapist, husband from hell... When I do my time, I will have to leave England because I will never find work again after the scandal," Ronald said in a whining tone. "You will probably get to write a book about me and how much of a horrible husband I was. All I wanted was a good wife."

That's why I can't love you in the dark
It feels like we're oceans apart
There is so much space between us
Baby, we're already defeated
'Cause, ah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
Everything changed me

And I-I-I-I-I don't think you can save me

Hermione scoffed, but her eyes filled with tears. "Write a book? You are deranged. I wanted a good marriage. I wanted a partnership. I wanted a good, healthy love story. I wanted a family... and now I have nothing."

"You are getting what you deserve, Weasley. Be very glad I have no wish to go to Azkaban, or you would be dead right now. Come on, Hermione. Let's file this restraining order so we can go home. I am cooking your favorite for lunch."

"Yes, please. I want to get out of here," Hermione pulled Harry away.

Hermione sighed happily. It had been five years since her divorce. She rubbed her belly as she read Luna's new book on Bowtruckles. Harry came into their living room holding Daniel, their two-year-old.

"Tea is ready, Mione," Harry smiled at her and helped her up. He pulled her chair out and helped her in, placing their son into his high chair.

As she sat down, Hermione smiled at her men. It was incredible how much could change in a few years. She was now happily married to her best friend, and it was just what she had dreamed a marriage should be. No, it wasn't perfect. They did have arguments, but rarely. Harry was a true partner in every sense of the word. He helped with the chores and when both had been too busy, they had hired a cleaning service and paid for it together. Ron had always been ashamed of making less money than she did, but he had never done anything to change that.

Harry knew that Hermione disliked alcohol exceedingly. As he wasn't a fan, he stopped drinking entirely. They would have eggnog at Christmas and champagne on New Year's Eve and their anniversary. Other than that, the only alcohol they kept in the house was for visitors. Things like these made Hermione feel very lucky. The ways Harry blew her away were simple. He would do things for her that he knew needed doing and she wouldn't ask for help doing them. Sometimes she would find he had put away all the books she was no longer using. Harry knew her well enough to organize them alphabetically. She would bake him his favorite, cinnamon buns, out of the blue, and he would buy her favorite fancy teas that she wouldn't splurge on. Harry would bring her flowers or ice cream just because depending on the time of the month. Hermione would run Harry baths with her custom essential oil blends. They would give each other massages or just help the other with ideas for work. They were such a good team and Hermione never had any doubts to have a family with Harry.

Hermione had been shocked when Harry sat down with her to discuss financials and make a joint budget. Harry had given her his paystub and was completely transparent regarding his responsibilities and how much money he could provide for their family. So, she did the same and together, they made agreements and lived a comfortable life. They took care of each other and their children equally. Now that two more babies were on the way, and Hermione's career was taking off, Harry had volunteered to take a sabbatical. His biggest ambition in life was to have his own family. Everything else could wait. Hermione learned when they got engaged that while she had been married to Ron, Harry had kept in touch with her mother, and singlehandedly he managed to smooth things out. Mrs. Granger was now satisfied that Hermione was married to a man her father would have approved of and her grandchildren filled her once dark and lonely days with joy and laughter.

A/N: Thank you for reading! :) -Lux-