When Sorry Isn't Enough
by hasapi

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Disclaimer (to apply for all chapters): This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
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Prologue

Hermione set her book down on the bedside table, sighing as she glanced at the clock. He still wasn't home. It was nearly midnight and he wasn't back yet. For the past week, it had been the same story—he'd had a lot of work to do, and had to stay late to finish it. Midnight was too late to be finishing work. She wasn't stupid—he of all people should have known that.

The covert calls, the late times he was getting home from work…he had to be cheating on her, and she wasn't going to stand for it. She was going to confront him about it and tell him to move out. His bags were waiting next to the closet. She'd been tempted to pack them herself, but knew she wouldn't have been able to do it. They'd been too close for her to be able to pack his things up and then tell him to leave. Even she didn't have the fortitude to do that.

She turned her head to the side, listening. Had that been a "Pop!"? Hermione threw back the covers and climbed out of the large bed, padding softly to the door. She was not at all prepared for the sight that awaited her.

Lilies of the valley—hundreds of them—were scattered around the living room, across the couch, the chairs, and—she gasped. The table in the dining room was set with china that looked awfully like—

"Hello, Hermione."

She jumped, turning to the source of the noise. "H-hello," she whispered, unable to say anything else.

He smiled at her, his blue eyes twinkling merrily as he held out a hand to her, stepping closer. "Come here, Hermione."

Normally she would have gone to him. The way his eyes were beckoning to her, and the overwhelming scent of the flowers—her favorite flowers—almost breaking her resolve. But she stood her ground, reality crashing back so suddenly tears stung her eyes. "No," she whispered, holding his gaze.

His eyes widened, and he looked so adorably confused that she almost relented. "Hermione?" he asked, his brow furrowing.

"I won't let you do this to me."

"Do what?" Tan hands ran through curly black locks.

"Cheat on me!"

Silence. The silence was so acute, so pervasive, Hermione almost took back what she had said.

But she couldn't. She couldn't take it back because she knew it was true, and she couldn't--wouldn't--delude herself.

"When," his voice cracked, "when have I ever cheated on you, Hermione?"

She opened her mouth, but realized she couldn't get a sound to come out.

"I never," he said harshly, holding her gaze, "cheated on you. I never will cheat on you, Hermione. I don't know why you don't believe that." He looked so hurt, so wounded, that Hermione felt her knees give way as he turned around, heading for the door.

"Wait!" the word rushed past her lips, unheeded and unchecked. She clung to the door of the bedroom, trying to regain the strength and fortitude people knew her so well for possessing.

He stopped, but didn't turn around. "What?"

"Why have you been so late the past week?" she whispered.

"I had work," he said, turning around again. "And, if you insist on knowing, in preparation for this. It was no easy task to find five hundred lilies of the valley in the middle of January."

Tears stung her eyes. "I'm so sorry."

He shook his head, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a small box. He tossed it at her feet. "And I'm sorry I can't accept your apology."

He turned around and walked out the door, his shoulders slumped.

Hermione let go of the door, sinking to the ground. With a trembling hand, she reached out to pick up the box and opened it. She gasped, the tears that had stung her eyes earlier now leaking down her cheeks as she curled into a fetal ball. He had wanted to marry her. And she had destroyed any chance of a future they had with blind accusations.

"Blaise…" she whispered. "I'm so sorry."