(A/N—R&R)

Disclaimer:- I wish I owned Harry Potter… but I don't

Chapter 4- Parting Reactions

Molly didn't find out about Ron and Cho until Ginny had returned to Hogwarts.

After the discovery of her boyfriend being on the point of an orgasm with another woman Hermione threw herself into work. She worked all the possible hours she could and the Weasley's barely saw her as she left at sunrise and rarely came home before 11pm; when she went straight to bed.

Molly was worried about her and tried to make her life easier, offering her everything from an ear to listen to her problems to going to the M.I.H to complain about driving their trainee's into insanity and ill health. Although grateful for the concern that showed Molly cared for her as though she were her daughter, Hermione didn't want to talk about it, and Ron was too embarrassed to tell his family about what had happened. Therefore the only person who knew about Ron's infidelity and the break up of the relationship was George (and Fred, after all they tell each other everything!), and they had to go to America to open a new chain of WWW (Weasley Wizarding Wheezes) the day after Hermione found Ron in the meadow.

The first time Hermione snapped out of the depression she was feeling was when she received a letter from her sister in America, who had been taken there by their aunt when her parents had died. The owl told her that Flick had done magic without realising! When she had returned from the hairdressers and pictured the way she wanted her disastrous haircut to be it transformed to the desired style instantly. After she realised what she could do, Flick began experimenting and discovered she could change her appearance at will! As she was still a British citizen her name would instantly appear on the future roll list at Hogwarts when she showed magical ability and not the American school, Salem's Academy for Young Witches (co-ed 1986). The news that her only sister was going to be following in her footsteps made Mione temporarily forget about the situation with Ron as she rushed around trying to gather as much information to send to Flick about Hogwarts and metamorphagi.

The first of September arrived all too quickly for two members of the Weasley household, Ginny was depressed about having to leave her boyfriend, especially because there was no guarantee they would be able to see each other again as Voldemort rose in power; Harry's thoughts ran along the same lines as he carried Ginny's magically shrunk trunk in one hand and has his other firmly gripped in Ginny's, as they held on so tightly to each other, giving each other the reassurance and strength to let each other go.

Ginny couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her face, knowing all too well that the end of the war would result in a show-down between Voldemort and Harry, it was inevitable- the whole of the wizarding world was expecting it to happen- but I don't want it too - she thought selfishly. I want Harry to be safe and be mine. She found that she didn't want to say 'good-bye' to her boyfriend and love of her life, "good-bye is forever" she whispered to Harry as they walked through the barrier to Platform 9¾; "and I don't ever want to be without you" she added; desperately trying to stop the heart wrenching sobs that were welling up inside her from bursting out.

Harry too was feeling very emotional; and never one to hide what he was feeling, he tenderly tilted Ginny's face towards his, and in the midst of the other students kissed Ginny conveying to her how much he loved her. When they broke apart Harry said "Be careful, I won't leave you, I'll fight and I'll win- otherwise all is lost- good and love will conquer- I promise, and then I will return"

When Ron, Hermione, Harry and Mrs Weasley returned to the Burrow from Platform 9¾, after a tearful separation and cries of "I love you," "I wish you were coming back to Hogwarts (at least then I'll know you'll be safe under Dumbledore's protective eye)," and "I'll write to you every day!" they saw the twins standing in the doorway; having just successfully completed a transatlantic apparition.

Each of them looked towards Hermione and with identical concerned expressions asked "are you ok?"

Hermione gave a small nod of her head as tears began to trickle down her face; all at once remembering the feelings that she had been trying to suppress; which was actually easier than it sounded because she had been working so much, and then because nobody else knew what had happened it wasn't being talked about.

As George drew nearer to Hermione and put his arms around her in an attempt pf comfort, Fred edged towards Ron and snarled "Why you wanker?" he asked his brother in an angry one, "Why did you have to do it? Could you not keep your cock in your pants? You don't deserve to be happy after what you have done"

Mrs Weasley turned to her children and with an angry look on her face asked "Are you going to tell me the easy way, or the magical way?"

As Hermione's tears began to stream down her face George held her tighter to his chest in an attempt to protect her from re-living the day that turned her from a pretty, intelligent, out-going witch- to this shell of a creature whose standards towards her appearance were beginning to slip; it being obvious to George that she was not wearing the subtle make-up that made it look as though she was wearing none, and she had lost a lot of weight- not that she had much to start off with.

Fred, his face still contorted in anger at his younger brother snarled "Well? Are you going to tell mum or do I have to?"

Harry's head snapped up- making it obvious that he had been oblivious to the scene that had been unfolding before his eyes as he thought about his now departed girlfriend- and looked towards his best friend.

Ron had the grace to look ashamed as the penetrating stare of his mother was fixed upon his figure. Growing more and more impatient she began tapping her feet "I'm waiting Ronald Bilius Weasley" in the tone of voice that spoke a thousand words about her anger- and the intensity it would grow to if it proved to be her youngest son's fault that Hermione was in tears.

Ron took a gulp before Fred interrupted, angry at the lack of courage his brother was showing- clearly forgetting that he too was not always forthcoming with information when faced with his mother's wrath. "This traitor is not worthy to be a Gryffindor- he is not brave or loyal!"

"What do you mean?" Harry indignantly demanded- sticking up for his friend over Hermione's sobs, "Ron has always been loyal"

"Ha!" George laughed as Fred inquired in a scathing tone "Really? Then how do you explain the fact that he was caught by none other than his GIRLFRIEND in a meadow shagging his best friends ex? That's not my idea of someone who is always loyal!"

Mrs Weasley, who had been standing to the side watching the revelations being revealed, began to ooze anger, her face grew red, her eyes narrowed and her lips became a pencil line thin as she clenched her fists and took a step towards Ron.

Harry looked at Ron who didn't try to defend himself, then with sadness etched in his face turned towards Hermione who was now shaking silently in Georges arms as the truth was finally out, and she couldn't physically cry any louder any more. Harry tenderly touched Hermione's arm and led her away to her bedroom- the twins following- not wanting to witness the wrath of Mrs Weasley at the way her son treated someone she considered a daughter.

After two hours Mrs Weasley had lost her voice through yelling ballistically at her youngest son and let him emerge from the hall. The twins and Harry who had remained with Hermione breathed a sigh of relief- although they didn't condone what Ron had done- they had never heard Mrs Weasley so angry before and on a subconscious level felt sorry for Ron having to face her wrath alone.

Hermione had been lying on the bed curled tightly in a ball, her unruly curls covering her face and hiding the tear streaked face and red eyes from view. When Mrs Weasley's ranting stopped she visibly became more comfortable, her fists slowly unclenched and her muscles relaxed.

Fred and George nodded at Harry that he should be the one to approach her and as he put his hand on Hermione's back she shot up and into his waiting embrace "Oh Harry!" she whispered "I couldn't tell you- I didn't want to talk about it." As he soothed her and stroked her hair to pacify his friend and try to alleviate her burden Ron appeared in the doorway. In a typical Ron manner and "with all the sensitivity of a teacup"1 he said in an attempt at a jovial tone "You should be glad Ginny is back at school Harry!"

Instantly 4 pairs of eyes shot to him, each giving him the metaphorical stare of death causing Ron to step backwards saying "Sorry", for once realising that he had not handled the situation in a very diplomatic manner.

"What do you want?" Hermione asked in a low voice, making Ron squirm as Harry clenched his friends hand in support. Looking at least semi-apologetic and ashamed of the hurt that he had caused the person who he had once loved so much; he looked into Hermione's eyes and said "I'm sorry 'Mione… I'm just not happy with you any more- and we never see each other."

Hermione nodded at his feeble excuses not expecting a better apology and as the anger built up inside her at the guy to whom she had given her heart; only to have it used as a Bludger and be hit beyond recognition before being cut up into little pieces and ground to be used in a potion; the guy who she use to consider her best friend and love of her life. "Get out! I don't want to see you again" she said trying to suppress the lump that was slowly rising in her throat, internally chanting the mantra "I am brave, I am a Gryffindor, I won't cry."

The twins and Harry did their best to stop Hermione from falling back into depression- desperately trying to boost her morale and make her laugh when she was not a work. They methodically left Ron's name out of conversation; Harry saving the story of Ginny's reaction to the treatment of her best friend- she had sent Ron a Howler- which he had received during a "Quick Reaction" lecture given by Professor Quickflit- a visiting speaker and therefore attended by all Aurors in the academy. Fred and George however found the story very amusing- especially the last sentence "Take note Harry Potter never treat me that way!"

Ginny sat in her bedroom feeling isolated and very lonely- as head girl she had her own separate bathroom, study and chambers from the rest of Gryffindor, so not only was she surrounded by silence, which she found rather unnerving, but she had also been torn apart form her boyfriend- who she had only been with for a short period of time- without the knowledge of when they would next meet.

Harry missed Ginny more than he cared to admit to himself; realising that that knowledge would make her indispensable to Voldemort who was always on the prowl to lure Harry into a trap. He sighed as he sat at his window looking out onto the garden where George and Hermione sat talking, before realising that Ginny was in the safest place possible- under the care and protection of Dumbledore at Hogwarts and therefore he should be grateful in the sense that she would not be getting involved in the final battle. Before turning to go to bed he glanced at Hermione and George, noticing with a smile that they were closer than they were before; this was partially due to the fact they both knew what the other was going through each having had their heart broken and partially because true friendship was something to be valued at the present time when fear ran amok throughout society and it was dangerous to become friendly with unfamiliar wizards. Harry smiled sadly, wondering if love could blossom and grow between the two before anything (i.e. Voldemort and his merry band of Deatheaters) could intervene.

1 Indirect quote from Goblet of Fire