" Why, Hermione? I thought that we loved each other," Ron asked looking shocked.
" I can't be engaged to anybody right now. I haven't lived my life yet. Why can't you understand how I feel? Why can't you consider the dreams that I have, or the things that I want, Ronald?"
" I've tried to. I really have, but every time we have this conversation, you back away or draw some type of tangent to avoid the issue. I thought that our feelings were strong enough for each other that we could be sure of a future together. Talking to you now, it seems like we're total strangers. I don't know how to describe it. You're treating me as if I'm in your way."
" You are, Ronald."
Hermione thought back to this conversation as she stood at the train station watching Ron kiss Maude Moonshine passionately. She came to Hogwarts as an exchange student. Hermione had never guessed that Maude could become such a potent rival. Then she reminded herself that she had already let Ron go before Maude even came into the picture. She recalled Maude's innocent smile and gentle ways. Maude was nearly her equal intellectually, but she had a humble grace about her that made her seem comely, even when she corrected her fellow classmates after they made mistakes.
Hermione guessed that Ron also took so well to Maude; because, she always chided him when he thought of doing something irresponsible rather than berate him. Maude offered the soft touch, where she merely grated his nerves.
Hermione really burned when she thought of how Ron seemed to change the more he spent time with Maude. He wore his clothes neatly, did things more promptly, and stayed out of trouble with her and Harry. Maude had stolen her pet project and turned him into everything that she herself wanted him to be.
Harry walked up behind her and placed a supportive hand on her shoulder while he held Ginny's hand. She saw their affectionate handlock and lost control; she cried so loudly that her hissing echoed throughout the small vicinity. This alerted others to her, something that she'd have otherwise minded had the circumstances been different.
Ron and Maude walked over to see what was the matter, and Hermione turned to face them. She wanted to grab Ron by the shoulders and shake him senseless to make him realize that he should have come after 'her', not falen into Maude's clutches. She wanted to scream at him that had he pursued her with more vigor; she would have eventually come around, but instead. she smiled and hugged them both.
When she saw the two of them side by side, she knew that she had lost for the first time in her life, and that it was time to throw in the towel. The choice that lay before her was love or her personal happiness. She chose the latter. She squeezed her diploma tightly and prayed that her career would bring her that fulfillment that she hoped it would.
She assured the two couples that she was okay, and watched them walk in the other direction. Her mind played " I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" from the movie " My Fair Lady."
It was true; she really had grown accustomed to Ron. So accustomed that she made the mistake of taking him for granted. She reminisced over their adventures together, and felt her heart sink into a hopeless abyss. She was disconsolate, heartbroken, and completely and utterly alone.