Hermione was in the kitchen watching Ron finish making supper for the two of them. The kids were out with friends leaving them alone for the evening, something she was slightly on edge about. Rose and Hugo had served as a buffer for the last week, and with them gone, Hermione was worried that she and Ron would fall to the unpleasant topic they'd been trying to put behind them. Hermione was pleased that her fractured relationship with Ron was slowly mending, despite the ongoing speculations in the press. She'd started reading a marriage help book for advice on rebuilding broken trust. She'd shared some of what she'd learned with Ron, and together decided to work on regular and open communication, something they both admitted neither of them had been great at in the past. They'd been putting in a solid effort to get back to normal, or at least a new version of it.

Hermione had promised to get home from work earlier and to make more time to be present, while Ron had agreed to better control his temper and not jump to conclusion without hearing her out. It had been difficult, but Hermione was feeling good about the progress they'd made. She was finally starting to feel like they could get through this rough patch in their marriage. She was hopeful that in ten years time, they'd hardly remember this awful moment in their lives.

Ron was making beef stroganoff using Molly's famous recipe, a dish that was both delicious and quick to prepare. Hermione leaned against the kitchen island and sipped the white wine he'd bought her, watching him go back and forth between the stove and the cutting board.

"Rose's birthday is in a few weeks," she said, remembering that her daughter still hadn't told her what she wanted for a present. "We should probably decide if we're inviting the family over to celebrate."

"I think we should," Ron replied, not looking up from slicing the mushrooms. "It may be a bit uncomfortable, but I can bear it for Rosie."

"Then I'll owl your mum so she can get the word out," Hermione said with a forced smile. Normally she'd tell Molly in person, but she had a feeling her mother-in-law wasn't up to seeing her just yet. "I can hardly believe Rose is turning fourteen."

"Don't remind me," Ron grimaced. "She's still five years old in my mind."

Hermione shot him a sympathetic look, knowing exactly how he felt. Rose was their first born and the fact that she was getting older and less dependent on them was a hard pill to swallow. Not to mention, her interest in boys had apparently started, which was of slight concern to Hermione. On several occasions she had almost told Ron about the inkling she had about Rose and Scorpius, but she'd decided against it. She couldn't imagine it would do any good, and she wasn't entirely sure something was really going on anyway. She settled on waiting until she knew for sure before unleashing Ron's protective side.

"I had lunch with Ginny today," Ron said casually. "We talked about... well everything."

"Was it helpful?" Hermione asked, feeling slightly awkward. She'd hadn't seen Ginny since the day after Harry's party, and they'd both been in a bit of a daze.

"Yeah, it actually was," he replied as he moved to stir the beef simmering on the stove. "She put some things in perspective and it's nice to know I'm not the only one having a hard time."

Hermione felt a pang of guilt.

Ginny was having a hard time? She wondered how the rest of the Potter clan was doing. She had avoided Albus when he came by to see Rose, and she hadn't seen James or Lily since the party. Did they hate her now that they knew?

"How is she?" Hermione squeaked out, her voice higher than usual.

Ron shrugged with a sight frown.

"She said things are a bit weird at their house as well," he answered. "I think she's putting on a brave face for the kids, but I can tell she's not quite herself."

Hermione could understand why. The media had been relentlessly coming up with new stories and crazy ideas. A few days ago, a new tabloid article had come out insinuating that Ginny had only married Harry for his money, and that when she'd played for the Harpies, she'd been sleeping with a number of her male teammates. It was outrageous. Anyone that knew Ginny was aware of how long she'd pinned for Harry when she was younger. For her it had been love at first sight. There was no way she'd have even looked at another guy during that time.

"I hate that," Hermione said quietly, feeling her stomach twist into a knot. "I hate that I did something to start this big mess."

"I know you do," Ron said reassuringly with a sad smile. "It doesn't help that I've been acting like some jealous prat either. I mean, really, it's not like you even remember."

Hermione stiffened at his words and her face paled. Oh god, she thought.

"M'ione?" Ron called when he noticed her silence, his expression conveying mild concern. "What's wrong?"

Hermione nervously chewed her lip. She needed to tell him. If they were going to get passed these last few weeks, she needed to put everything out in the open, no matter how horrible it would be.

"I need to tell you something," she whispered with a wavering voice as she looked at her husband soberly. "Just please try and see things from my perspective."

"Alright..." he replied cautiously, setting down the wooden spoon he was holding and giving her his attention.

Hermione took a deep breath, preparing herself for the backlash.

"I had Harry reverse the spell," she said calmly, looking directly into Ron's eyes. "A few weeks ago."

"You remember?"

The hurt in his voice was evident, and Hermione tried her best to steady her breathing. She needed to stay calm.

"Yes."

Ron was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixated on Hermione who willed herself to look at him. She watched in anticipation as he processed what she had told him.

"You didn't think to talk to me before going off with him and deciding this?" he asked, his voice rising slightly.

"They're my memories, Ron," she answered.

She watched his eyes narrow and face harden.

"Of a night you spent fucking my best friend!" He shouted, causing Hermione to flinch at his harsh words.

"Can you be a bit less vulgar?" Hermione pleaded, standing from her seat and moving to turn off the stove element. It wasn't likely they'd be eating anytime soon.

"Oh, I'm sorry! What term would you like me to use?" Ron sneered viciously. "Love making?"

"You know that's not what I meant!" Hermione cried helplessly. This was not going well.

"I can't believe you..." Ron shook his head and began to pace nearby. "This is our marriage. Not just yours."

"I know," Hermione replied quickly. "You don't understand. I was going crazy."

Ron ignored her and stomped into the living room, feeling the need to put some space between them in an attempt to control his anger. Hermione followed him and saw him sink into his chair, hunched over with his hands cradling his head. Slowly she approached him and leaned against the wall next to him.

"Let's just talk," she said gently.

She couldn't have him lose it on her and storm out like he had last time. She couldn't go through that again. The kids couldn't either. They needed to talk. Calmly.

"Okay, fine." Ron snapped his head up and looked at her vilely before crudely asking, "Did you get off?"

Hermione's jaw dropped.

"What?"

"You heard me," Ron spat, rising to his feet and approaching her so they were almost nose to nose. "Did you?"

"You're being serious?"

Hermione was thrown. He couldn't possibly think she was going to answer that?

"How many times?" He fired next, looking at her manically.

"Ron, stop," she replied firmly.

"Is he bigger than me?"

"You're being a child."

"What positions?"

"I'm not doing this."

"Did you suck him off?"

"Ron!"

"Did he go down on you?"

Hermione suddenly stilled and was unable to hide her look of contrite. Ron noticed her change in demeanor immediately, and her silence said everything.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," he whispered, shaking his head slowly in disbelief.

"Ron..." Hermione breathed, not sure what she could do or say. She took a step towards him but recoiled when she saw his livid expression.

"All these years I've wanted to, and you wouldn't let me!" He cried angrily. "You said it grossed you out!"

"No, I said it made me uncomfortable and I didn't know why," Hermione replied sheepishly, embarrassment building within her.

"Well now I guess you know!"

Hermione sighed and cast her eyes down. She didn't want to talk about this. This is exactly why she'd been hesitant to share with him that she'd restored her memories. She knew he'd make it into a bigger deal than it was.

Hermione was sure he'd done things with Lavender in his teens that he wouldn't want her to know about, and she'd never pressed him for details. It was in the past, why couldn't he wrap his head around that?

"Me remembering doesn't change anything," she reasoned carefully. "I'm married to you. I love you."

Ron looked at her sadly.

"Yet you decided to relive a night you spent with my best friend without even talking to me first."

"I needed to know," Hermione responded, her heart breaking at the way he was looking at her. "You have no idea what not knowing felt like."

"No, I don't," Ron agreed, finally having calmed down. He sat back down in his chair and rubbed his temple with his hand. "I imagine it's no worse than the feeling after overhearing your wife's sex dream about another man."

"What?" Hermione breathed, her heart stopping. What was he talking about?

"A few nights ago," Ron muttered, his gaze piercing into her. "I heard you in your sleep. You were moaning, and it sure as hell wasn't from pain."

"Ron, I - "

"You said his name, Hermione," he interrupted abruptly, causing her face to flush. "You said his name and not mine."

"It was just a dream," she feebly tried to explain. "Nothing is going on. I've hardly even seen him."

"I know," Ron exhaled loudly.

Hermione was completely mortified. He'd heard her. He knew she'd been thinking about Harry, even if it had been unconsciously. She couldn't imagine what must have gone through Ron's mind in the moment. It must have destroyed him.

"Tell me what you're thinking?" she whispered, not able to stand the silence between them.

"I think... I think we need to take some time away from each other," Ron said quietly with a sorrowed frown. "A trial separation."

Hermione's breath hitched and she felt sick. This couldn't be it. This couldn't be how it was going to end.

"Ron, no."

"I can stay in the loft above the shop," Ron suggested, ignoring her plea. "It can give us time to figure some things out."

"No," Hermione repeated, her voice quivering. Hot tears began welling in the corner of her eyes, and she was struggling to keep it together. "I don't want that. I want to work on this, on us."

"I'm sorry," Ron said looking at her sullenly. "But right now, I don't."

"So what then? You're just giving up?" She said fiercely, feeling angry over his constant need to run every time it got tough. "You're really going to throwing away our marriage because of something that happened twenty years ago?"

"I'm not throwing away anything," Ron answered with a heavy sigh. "It's just for now. I need some time to figure out what I want."

"What you want?" Hermione replied bitterly. "You already decided that when you vowed to be with me for better or worse."

"Hermione, please." He wiped away a few tears on his cheek. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."

"… are you going to see other women?"

The words left her mouth before they could even register in her mind, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.

"I... I don't know," Ron replied reluctantly, shifting uncomfortably. "Maybe."

His response was like sharp knife through Hermione's already broken heart. She couldn't take anymore, not tonight. She left the living room, unable to look at her husband as she passed him on her way to the stairs. She barely made it into the solitude of her bedroom before collapsing on her bed and letting out a miserable cry.

...

Rose and Hugo sat at the dining room table across from their dad, both ignoring the fresh mugs of hot coco he'd made for them. When they'd both arrived home a few minutes earlier, Ron had asked the pair if he could have a quick word before they went up to bed. It was not lost on Rose how tense her dad looked, and that her mum was absent. She was certain whatever it was he wanted to discuss wouldn't be good.

"What's going on?" Hugo asked worriedly.

Rose felt a twinge of sympathy for her younger brother. He hadn't been doing well with everything going on, and he seemed especially sensitive to all the speculations in the media.

"Look guys, there isn't an easy way to say this," Ron began, fidgeting under the stare of his children. "I'm going to be moving out." Seeing the look of panic flash on Rose and Hugo's faces, he quickly added, "Just for a little while."

"Why?" Rose questioned, though she was sure she partially knew the answer. Her dad couldn't get over it. He couldn't make peace with everything going on. It had to be that.

Ron struggled to find the right words. He hadn't really thought about what he'd say, and now he was regretting not having something planned out. Hermione was always the one that best knew how to discuss these types of things, but she'd locked herself in their room and was in no state to be of any help.

"Your mum and I just need some time apart to sort out some stuff."

He hoped it was the right thing to say as he looked between his two grief-stricken kids. They were crushed, he could see that clearly.

"Wow... Hugo was right," Rose said, shaking her head as she stood from her chair, having heard enough. "You really are getting divorced."

"Rosie, no. That's not something we are even considering right now. You both know we've been fighting and upset with each other. We just need to take a break."

"This is because of Uncle Harry, isn't it?" Hugo asked resentfully.

"No," Ron lied, causing his daughter to roll her eyes. "It's because we need some time apart."

"Yeah, sure, dad," Rose muttered sarcastically. "Thanks for talk."

She shot him a glower that she hoped conveyed her disappointment before she trudged upstairs. As she walked down the hall, she didn't have time to think of what he'd said before she saw her mum appeared from her own bedroom.

"Mum," Rose said with surprise.

Right away she noticed Hermione's red-rimmed, teary eyes. She guardedly crossed her arms tightly against her chest.

"Did you have a nice time with Lily?"

The strain in her voice was harrowing, and it was the last straw for Rose; she couldn't keep up her nonchalant facade for a second longer. She burst into tears and rushed towards her mother.

Caught off guard, Hermione instinctively enveloped her into a hug and kissed her forehead as she gently stroked her hair.

"Shhhh," she whispered soothingly into Rose's ear. "Everything's going to work out okay."

As Rose allowed her mum to continue to comfort her, this time especially, she really hoped that she'd be right.