A PostHogwarts Affair- Chapter 4

A/N: I can't believe I'm updating so quickly! I think it was inspired by my reviewers, there aren't too many of you guys but I still love you all.

The rest of the time that Ron was away went by rather quickly, as usual. Occasionally I wondered what he was up to. Draco had brought up a very interesting question the other day, and I really had begun to think about it.

Did Ron chase after other women?

In all honesty, I didn't really care if he did. A year ago, I would've cared. A year ago, I would've sat home with a box of bon-bons and a copy of Witch's Weekly and cry my eyes out.

Not anymore.

I didn't know what it was. Maybe it was the fact that I was seeing someone too. Or maybe it was just because now I knew for sure that women didn't interest Ron. Nothing interested him except that damn game. I wasn't saying that he was gay; I was perfectly sure of his sexuality but he just didn't care that much about anything except the Chudley Cannons. We hadn't had sex in three years.

I hadn't had sex in three years.

The realization hit me like a bullet. What kind of a freak was I, wasting away my twenties, my blessed twenties, by being so chaste? And how come Ron and I never 'did it' anyway? I sat there with a bottle of butterbeer, trying to figure out the answer. Sure, the first year we'd 'done it' some because it was so obligatory for a newly married couple. It had been really strange, being with a friend…well lover-friend…and it had just died out. All the romantic things had died out. I hadn't even properly kissed him in three months.

God. What was wrong with me? How come I had just realized that we weren't meant for each other?

Shaking my head in small disbelief, I debated whether or not to contact someone. I've never been any good at keeping secrets, and I was exploding with news. Surely I could trust somebody with the news that Draco and I were interested in each other. But nobody from the Weasley family. Too bad Ginny was my best friend. And too bad Harry was Ron's best friend. I sighed, here was something else I had to keep all to myself.

The days went by rather quickly and Ron came home, looking like something the cat dragged in.

"Ron!" I screamed. My beautifully scrubbed tiles! Since there was so little space, I kept it spotless. Everyone knew about my perfectionism, why was Ron, my husband for goodness sake, ruining my beautiful floor?

"What is it?" He sounded bored.

"Get off my floor! I just cleaned it. Look, you've ruined the shine! It's all dull now!" I hated dull floors with a passion; they were one of my biggest pet peeves.

"Is that all you care about? Look at the state I'm in! Don't you even care why?"

Feeling ashamed as hell, I answered him in a small voice. "Sorry, I'm just…protective of my floors. Anyway, Ron, what happened?"

"Got mugged on the way home. They took my broomstick!" He moaned and sat down, his face buried in his hands.

I sighed. The broomstick, a Lightning Strip, was Ron's most prized possession. He'd paid so much money for it; it was the hottest new thing to have.

"I'm sorry, Ron. D'you want to report it?"

He looked at me and scowled. "Go report it, will you, while I shower?"

"Ron! I'm supposed to go meet Harry at the Karma Pub in ten minutes," I said, glancing at my watch. Every Wednesday night, Harry and I got together just to laugh out life's stress. This usually excluded Ron, he went out with his Quidditch buddies mostly, and he got to see Harry other times. Harry and I in fact preferred not having him there; this way we could actually get some time together without Ron butting in with Quidditch stories. Not that that was a bad thing. Some were quite funny.

He rubbed his eyes and gave an exaggerated sigh. "Well, if you must…"

"Of course I must. In fact I'm going to go change, so you'll just have to report it." On a lighter note, I added, "I really am sorry. I'm sure it'll turn up."

" 'Course it will," Ron said, although he sounded rather doubtful, "It's only a matter of time."

The sentence was oddly chilling. It was only a matter of time before Ron found out.

Fifteen minutes later, I was sitting with Harry in the noisy Karma Pub. It was a new one for both of us; we tried to rotate pubs and clubs as often as possible to 'spice up' our boring lives. We'd both ordered a shot of gin and drank heartily as we talked.

"Life's a butt," Harry complained.

"So fart."

"You mean, let it all out?"

I laughed. "Yes, just make sure nobody's there when you erupt."

"You're disgusting."

"I know. Ron's immaturity rubs off, you know."

He smiled. "I know, I know, it's been four years but I still can't believe you guys are married."

The smile on my face died. I was beginning to dread telling people I was married to him. How come everybody had seen that we wouldn't work out? Ironically, as I was thinking, Harry continued his rambling--"Don't take any offense, but I honestly didn't think it would last this long. I'm so proud of you, Hermione, mak…"

"Harry, don't." I took a long gulp of gin, trying to drown out his words.

His voice changed from a reminiscent tone to that of concern. "Hermione, what's wrong?"

I took a deep breath, not really sure if I was ready to tell Harry. And then there was always the possibility that Harry might tell Ron.

"I…Harry," I said, imploringly.

"I'm listening."

"You can't tell Ron."

He paused. "Okay."

"Look…it isn't working out between him and me." I said quietly, a little nervous as to what his response would be.

"Oh?"

"Yeah…I can't believe I didn't see it earlier but…Harry, I don't…love him."

Harry sighed. "Tell me about it."

"Wait…do you mean, tell me about it, as in, tell me what's going on, Hermione, or can you relate?"

He smiled. "Both."

"Wait. What's wrong with your love life? You're dating Ginny, no?"

"Nope."

"How come?" I was really surprised. Here I had been thinking that they were going to tie the knot anytime soon, and Harry was telling me they weren't even seeing each other anymore? What was the world coming to?

"I dunno. She broke up with me a couple of days ago."

"Why?"

"I don't know! All she said was that she needed space. And the classic line, it's not you…"

"…it's me," I finished up for him. I reached across the table for his hand.

"You're not alone when it comes to relationship failures," I whispered.

"What's up with you and Ron?"

"That's exactly it, Harry. Nothing's 'up'. He doesn't even take remote interest in what I'm doing with myself."

"Not true. He was extremely pissed when you started working for Malfoy's company."

I gave a forced laugh, not wanting to let Harry know that his joke sucked. "Yeah, only negative things."

"It's not that bad, is it?"

"It is, Harry, you don't understand how hard it is to live with someone who just disappears for a bit and then comes back, drunk as an old geezer, and…"

"It could be worse, Hermione."

"Harry, you don't bloody get it. It could be worse, but this is enough! I can't take it anymore! And now that I've started seeing…" I trailed off, cursing myself inwardly. That's what I get for ranting, I fumed. Slip of the tongue and now of course Harry's going to ask who…

"Who?"

I groaned. "You're going to be mad."

"No, I won't."

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise. Now who are you seeing?"

The words came out as a whisper; I was surprised that Harry even heard in the noisy atmosphere of the pub. "My boss."

"Your boss? You don't mean…"

"Yes," I closed my eyes, not wanting to see Harry's reaction.

"You're dating Malfoy?" Harry's voice boomed over the pub and about half of the people there turned to stare at him.

"Harry," I muttered, my face a mushy tomato, "Not so loud! And I'm not dating him!"

"Then what're you doing with him?"

"I don't know! That's the thing, I don't know!"

Harry looked at me with determination, and I succumbed, telling him everything from beginning to end.

"So basically you might be starting an affair with…Malfoy."

I nodded wearily. Heck of an evening, this was.

"And what about Ron?"

"What about him?" I responded angrily. "It's not like he cares about me."

"Well…I just don't want you to get hurt. You know Malfoy's pretty well-known for never having had a serious relationship."

"I know," I said miserably. "But I…really fancy him."

Harry grasped my hand. "It's okay. And I won't tell Ron, but you'll have to tell him sometime." He looked like he wanted to say something more, but was at great effort for keeping it in.

My heart went out to him. I reached across the table and hugged him, my very best friend. I was thrilled. He understood. The question was where to go from here?

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I don't normally do those, so I thought I would.

Sorry I didn't have any Draco/Hermione interaction. This was a rather boring chapter, I know, but it's just…needed. Bear with me! Anyway, REVIEW!