Author's Notes: This is intended as a one-shot but will be part of a short collection based on music from Adele's new album 30. I won't be using all of the songs, and I only see three more stories after this one. I recommend listening to the music while reading the story – actually, just put the whole thing on repeat. The song titles are also the story titles. I have no beta, and all mistakes are my own. I am also not gaining anything in any way; this is for my enjoyment and hopefully for those who read it. This is Post-Hogwarts, and everything through book seven is canon.

Easy On Me

During Hugo's last year, things between Ron and I had never been worse. I sat at The Potter's kitchen table on a cold Saturday afternoon a few days before Valentine's Day, wiping my eyes and blowing my nose. The house was quiet, and all the kids had returned to Hogwarts after winter break. I was reasonably sure that Ron had once again been cheating on me and had all throughout our marriage. He was never blatant about it when the children were home, but missed nights at home and fresh clothes the next day at work made it clear.

Ginny was making tea, and Harry was next to me, holding my hand and rubbing soothing circles on my back. I blew up and had just told them everything. The things I knew for sure, and the ones I suspected. How our relationship had changed once Ron had wanted us to try and get pregnant, the horrible arguments we had that culminated in the massive shouting match we had last spring, and all the things that Ron revealed in its wake.

I didn't see Ron except in passing at The Ministry for next month after that incident. Then he acted as though nothing had changed, and everything was normal again. I realized, in hindsight, it was because nothing had changed for him. His life was still intact. I had no devasting revelations to impart except my unhappiness. I now knew that the only one who had changed was me.

There ain't no gold in this river
That I've been washin' my hands in forever
I know there is hope in these waters
But I can't bring myself to swim
When I am drowning in this silence
Baby, let me in

I was so tired of fighting for an honest, authentic relationship with the man who had become nothing more than my sperm donor. Ron had never been a very involved father, something Harry and George had always given him a hard time about over the years. It didn't seem to matter, though, and he was content with the status quo he had set in place for us. But now, it was as evident to Harry and Ginny as it had become to me. We were possessions, not family.

Go easy on me, baby
I was still a child
Didn't get the chance to
Feel the world around me
I had no time to choose what I chose to do
So go easy on me

I had been so afraid of what would happen when I told Harry I wanted to leave Ron. How would it change our relationship? Would I lose him too? Would all of Ron's family turn against me too? What about the children? Will they understand? Will they hate me? So much anger and guilt coursed through me in equal waves.

There ain't no room for things to change
When we are both so deeply stuck in our ways
You can't deny how hard I have tried
I changed who I was to put you both first
But now I give up

Ginny brought our tea back to the table, slid her chair next to me, pulled me close, and laid her head on my shoulder. I threw my arms around her and choked on my tears again. I felt guilty for the feelings of relief and acceptance two of my closest friends showered me with that afternoon. But, on the other hand, I felt as though I didn't deserve either, especially if I was going to end this chapter of my life that I had held onto for so long.

Go easy on mе, baby
I was still a child
Didn't get the chance to
Feel thе world around me
Had no time to choose what I chose to do
So go easy on me

Ron and I had planned to have supper with The Potter's that night, it was a small get-together with a few other guests, but Ron had canceled at the last minute with no explanation. Of course, Ron had no idea that this would be the straw that broke the camel's back. I don't know if he realized that we hadn't seen each other except in passing for almost six weeks. The owl that had delivered Ron's note didn't wait for a response, taking the treat offered by Harry. Then, with a soft trill in thanks, it left moments after it arrived.

I had good intentions
And the highest hopes
But I know right now
It probably doesn't even show

I threw the note onto the table so they both could see it and told Harry and Ginny everything in my anger. Years ago, Ron had gone to the trouble of creating a message he could reuse over and over when he knew whatever his excuse happened to be; it would lead to another screaming match. Harry had found stacks of them at his desk once and asked me about them when Ron wouldn't give him a straight answer.

I had hundreds of them that had accumulated over the years. Harry didn't know it, but it had become a sick joke and a sure way to instigate a fight. But, unfortunately, I had become a joke. Ron had a "form letter" for blowing off plans with his wife, children, and friends so he could do whatever or whoever he pleased. I remember asking Harry what kind of man does that to his wife? Harry had no immediate answers or even some half-hearted excuse to cover for Ron's callousness.

"Hermione, there isn't anything I can say in his defense anymore," Harry had replied sadly. "I can't say I understand him on this, and he doesn't tell me anything anymore. I think he's afraid that I would come to you if I found something out, and he would have no way to spin things to his advantage or deny it all."

"He didn't grow up around a cheater, though Harry. Dad never did stuff like this to mom. He wanted all of us as much as she did, growing up. So he has no excuse," Ginny said, angry on my behalf. "Ron has never been able to see past his own wants and desires. He was like that when we were kids, and now he's setting this kind of example for acceptable behavior for his children! I just can't…" she trailed off, shaking her head in frustration.

None of us had realized how long we had discussed Ron, my failed marriage, and my now impending divorce when their floo activated. Out stepped one Minerva McGonagall. She was dressed in muggle attire as she did for these family get-togethers. She was looking quite fetching in a deep plum turtleneck under a long double-breasted navy pea coat and dark blue jeans tucked into a pair of worn brown hiking boots.

"I'm sorry, I'm early, but…" She started to say as she turned to face us after banishing the soot from her clothes and hair; she had a smile that immediately fell when she saw my face.

Her eye flicked between the three of us, and I blew my nose again, trying to pull myself together quickly. Ginny got up to get another teacup for Minerva. Minerva took the seat next to me, vacated by Ginny. A teacup slid in front of her as Ginny sat across from us. I could tell she was trying to read the situation, and since neither Ginny nor Harry was also in tears, it was clear whatever was happening was centralized to me.

She took my hand gently in hers and searched my face. "How can I help you, Hermione?" she asked quietly.

My chin trembled as I shook my head. With a deep breath, I told her, "There is nothing to do now, Minerva; it's all been done."

She looked at me closely again and then back to Harry and Ginny. "Ronald?" She asked.

I stared at my cup on the table. "He's fine as usual, and he won't be joining us for supper. And I'm leaving him."

I looked up at the ceiling and closed my eyes for a moment, trying to center myself again. When I opened my eyes, I could see Harry nodding, and the sad look on Ginny's face confirmed my statement.

"It's about bloody time, Hermione," Minerva said and patted my hand she still held. "Do the children know?"

"No, not yet. I just came to the decision, you see," I said softly. "I haven't even decided what to do next."

With a practiced wave of her elegant hand, a business card appeared in her hand. She passed the card to me; with a satisfied look, she said, "These are my solicitors; they work in both the magical and muggle worlds. Tell them I sent you, and you will have all the legal help you need." She sniffed disdainfully. "It's in your favor that your children are both now of age. So there will be no custody to worry about dithering over. I trust you have come to this decision due to his infidelities?"

"Yes, how did you know?" I asked her pointedly.

Minerva sighed, "I didn't. Not with any certainty but over the years, I have noticed certain patterns and behaviors which led me down that path of thought more than once." She smiled sadly and squeezed my hand, "I did not bring my suspicions to you because they were just that, and I didn't want to cause strife unnecessarily if I was wrong."

"Thank you, Min. And both of you, too. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't taken my decision well," I said with a watery smile as I looked at the three of them. "I don't want to spoil this evening any more than I already have."

"Nonsense," Minerva chuckled.

I nodded again and took another deep breath. With a familiar wave of my hand, I cast a glamor to cover my swollen, puffy eyes and red nose.

Harry came to my side and pulled me out of my chair into a hug. "I've always got your back, 'Mione. You were my sister before you married the git, and you always will be regardless of who you are in a relationship with," Harry said as he held on to me; with an arm, he waved Ginny over, and the three of us stood hugging.

Ginny pulled back and held my gaze as she spoke, "Hermione, I have known my brother all his life, and I love him because he is my brother. But more often than not, I don't really like him as a person. And it's all of the traits that grated on me as we grew up that seem to have only gotten worse as he grew older. I feel like I should be apologizing to you for not warning you better before you tied the knot."

"It's not your fault, Gin, and neither of us was perfect in this, but I had hoped things would be different. It just is, what it is now," I said and hugged her tighter. Harry tightened his arms around us again, and I felt another body step close to and enfold me in their embrace.

"Whatever you need, lass, you need only to ask," Minerva whispered in my ear as we all stood in a group hug.

Go easy on me, baby
I was still a child
I didn't get the chance to
Feel the world around me
I had no time to choose what I chose to do
So go easy on me

I'm not sure how long the four of us stood in each other's arms, but the floo activated again and out stepped Neville and George. Before the pair had time to ask any questions, we pulled apart and made our greetings just as the floo activated again, and Angelina's face appeared in flames.

"George, don't forget the sticking potion you're working on will be ready tomorrow morning. Don't stay out too late, love." We all heard her reminding George, which caused a raucous round of laughter from the six of us.

Minerva stayed close to my side that night, and I slowly let myself accept that I liked it.

The End