Author's Notes: This is the third one-shot in the 30 series based on songs from Adele's new cd of the same name. I recommend reading them first. I also 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 set Post-Hogwarts, and everything through book seven is canon.
Woman Like Me
I was sitting at our kitchen table waiting for Ron to come home. He had promised he would, but he was already over an hour late. I had absently started drumming my fingers against the warm, honey-colored wood. The faint dripping of the sink faucet was in time with the echo from the dripping rain gutters outside. I wasn't angry, and his tardiness drove home just how overdue the conversation I wanted to have with him indeed was.
You're driving me away, give me a reason to stay
I want to be lost in you, but not in this way
Don't think you quite understand who you have on your hands
How can you not see just how good for you I am?
It had been a little over three weeks since I broke down at The Potter's house and laid everything out for Harry and Ginny. I had also filled Minerva in slowly throughout that evening and the multiple lunches we had started spending together since that Saturday. Minerva had been fantastic, we had been sharing lunches for a little more than a year now, and I learned to enjoy her wit and dry sense of humor that can be a little naughty when there's been enough Firewhisky floating around. I can't say it's been a revelation because I always knew there was more to Minerva McGonagall than all of the accolades and adjectives laid at her feet by The Wizarding World. I just never assumed I would get to see those facets.
As Headmistress of Hogwarts, Minerva was at The Ministry two or three times a week for a meeting of some sort. She had taken these opportunities to stop by my office shortly after the argument in Hugo's sixth year. We would have lunch or supper together, depending on the hour. At first, under the guise of recommendations for Hugo as his graduation approached, or updates on the wards and security at Hogwarts that were kept in a file only the Head Auror, The Head of Hogwarts, and the Head of the DMLE was privy to after Voldemort's final demise, and then simply in friendship.
I know that you've been hurt before
That's why you feel so insecure
I begged you to let me in 'cause I only want to be the cure
If you don't choose to grow, we ain't ever gonna know
Just how good this could be
I really hoped that this would go somewhere
The sound of the backdoor interrupted my internal musings. I hadn't even heard Ron apparate into our backyard. With a sigh, I stood and went to freshen my tea from the pot on the stove. I sent an extra cup and the pot of tea ahead of me to the table as I followed behind the floating cutlery with a quick spell. In a flurry of motion, Ron bustled in and dropped a kiss on my cheek, missing or ignoring the fact I didn't turn towards him for a proper kiss. He plopped into the chair across from me, reaching for the empty cup and pouring himself some tea.
Complacency is the worst trait to have, are you crazy?
You ain't never had, ain't never had a woman like me
It is so sad a man likе you could be so lazy
Consistency is the gift to givе for free and it is key
To ever keep, to ever keep a woman like me
Once Ron had finished sweetening his cup of tea, he started his usual meaningless apology. "I'm sorry I was late, love. I was working on a project and lost track," He started.
I raised my hand to stop what I knew would be another lie. "Ron, are you happy being married to me?"
He looked at me in confusion. "Of course, 'Mione. Aren't you? What is this all about?"
"No, Ron, I'm not," I replied. "Who is she, Ron?" I asked and then shook my head. "Nevermind, I don't want to know. But, Ron, I'm not sure how you expect me to continue with you after what you said last spring."
"But I thought everything was fine…" he trailed off.
"For you, it was, because nothing in your life did change!" I said, slightly exasperated. "You still don't come home but have no extra earnings. You don't come home, but you have clean clothes stored somewhere else – and don't lie and say they are at your desk at work. I KNOW better, Ronald!"
He folded his hands in front of him on the table. "Look, Hermione, I don't know where you are getting your information from…."
I got up from the table and walked away from him. "Ronald, you do realize that we both work for the DMLE, right? You do realize I have the same access to your records as you have to mine as your spouse. I have all the complied paperwork that tracks your work hours and what projects you are working on, right? You do understand this, don't you? I hope you do because if you want to continue to lie, I have enough proof to proceed with the divorce without your acquiescence."
All you do is complain about decisions you make
How can I help lift you if you refuse to activate the life that you truly want?
I know it's hard, but it's not
"Divorce?!" He squawked, standing up so quickly he knocked over his chair. "Proof? What Proof? You can't just leave me. You'll lose everyone; my mother will never forgive you," he sputtered. "Why are you angry about this now?"
"She already has, Ronald. So, yes, Ron, I'm leaving you, and I've lost no one and even gained a few friends too," I said quietly, thinking of Minerva as I came back and sat down again. "I have proof of your flat in four blocks west of The Leaky Cauldron in muggle London."
Ron's mouth opened, and instead of the refusal I expected, he closed his mouth and sat back in the chair, his hands still flat on the table. His eyes grew hard, and the tips of his ears began to turn red. He knew he couldn't hide anymore.
We come from the same place, but you will never give it up
It's where they make you feel powerful
That's why you think I make you feel small
But that's your projection, it's not my rejection
"Why now, Hermione?" Ron demanded, picking up his chair and sitting down again.
"Honestly?" I asked.
"Who is he?" Ron hissed.
"He?" I parroted in confusion.
"Does he work at The Ministry? You're always off doing something fantastic. You don't have Harry or me as your sidekicks to carry anymore." Ron grit out, his tone more telling than the words. "So yeah, who is he? There has to be someone you've replaced me with; it's not just me! Harry? Malfoy? Not George, surely!"
I put my heart on the line for the very first time
Because you asked me to and now you've gone and changed your mind
But lovin' you was a breakthrough
I saw what my heart can really do
Now some other woman will get the love I had for you
'Cause you don't care, oh
"Oh, Ron," I sighed heavily. "There is no one else, no easy out or blame you can avoid. I want to be happy and in love. But, Ron, I'm not in love with you. I haven't been for a long time. You can't love a prize, Ron; I hope you know that. If you had been honest with me twenty years ago, you must know I would never have gone through with our wedding. We have maintained appearances for long enough," I said, "Don't you want to be happy?"
Complacency is the worst trait to have, are you crazy?
You ain't never had, ain't never had a woman like me
It is so sad a man like you could be so lazy
Consistency is the gift to give for free and it is key
To ever keep, to ever keep a woman like me
"Why do you keep saying that? I am happy! I don't understand why you aren't?" Ron said, grasping at straws to bolster his ego. "Don't you have everything you need? This house, our children? Aren't they enough?"
"Ron, you come home when the children are here, but when they are at school, you are harder to find than one of Luna's Wrackspurts. You and I spend time together as a couple only when we have to, not because we want to, and we only did early on because I nagged you into it, or Molly would! Rose is busy with her apprenticeship, and Hugo will be graduating soon. We don't even fight anymore, Ron! Didn't you notice when we stopped talking to one another? I did, but I also did nothing to try and change what was happening between us either. We haven't shared a bed in over a decade, Ronald," I said evenly. I had shed too many tears over our relationship. I spent so much time agonizing over why our relationship was slowly dying, all the things we could have done differently. I finally understood that it takes two to make a relationship thrive, and it also takes two to let one die a slow and painful death from neglect.
I wanted more from the person that is supposed to love me. I wanted to give more of myself to another. Maybe it was a silly notion to have still, but I always thought love would be more. Love isn't complacent, and it made me think of a muggle scripture verse. Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud. It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails… I'm not too sure about that part. While perhaps love never fails, sometimes it is not enough to sustain an already fractured relationship without honesty or equity. I could see Ron trying to come up with something, anything that might be used to change my mind. The saddest part was watching him flounder, knowing he had nothing. I watched the change come over him as he slumped a little in his chair. He didn't try to struggle through any half-hearted explanations or beg and pled like he might have actually felt regret or remorse, or hell, even sadness. The brief flare of suspicion was a show and had no real emotion behind the sentiment.
"I'm going to sell the house; you already have other lodgings, so it shouldn't be an issue," I said tonelessly. "You haven't lived here full time in years; not much is yours anymore. So I'll put the house on the market after Hugo graduates. I've already spoken with Rose; she is aware of our meeting tonight; she wants to have lunch with you later this week. She asked that you owl her."
Ron nodded. "Is Rose angry?" He asked.
I shook my head, "No, Rose took the news very well. She wondered why it took us so long, though."
"Do you want to tell Hugo together? I'm supposed to be at Hogwarts on Friday morning." Ron offered.
A woman like me (One more time)
Complacency (Woman like me), is the worst trait to have (Woman like me)
Are you crazy? (Woman like me)
You ain't never had, ain't never had a woman like me (Woman like me)
It is so sad a man like you could be so lazy (Woman like me)
Consistency (Woman like me), is the gift to give for free and it is key
"As am I, but you know that," I replied. I had planned to have lunch with Hugo and Minerva while I was there with the modifications for the wards at Hogwarts. Ron and Harry were part of the security detail. We took advantage of the trips to spend the afternoon with our kids while they were at school, too, we always had, so staying behind wasn't unusual.
With a final nod, Ron rose from the table. He shoved his hands in his pockets and shuffled his feet like he wanted to say something more but only sighed.
"I'm going to go, 'Mione. But, umm, take care of yourself," Ron said quietly and pulled me to my feet and into a hug, much to my surprise. I stood a bit stiffly for a moment before I was able to relax; this was more physical contact than we had had with one another in a very long time.
I gave him one last long squeeze and pulled away. "Goodbye, Ron," I said sincerely and patted his shoulder.
"You too," Ron answered. And with a glance around the kitchen, there was a crack, and Ron was gone. I pulled the ward to me and removed his magical signature. I overlaid new wards for added safety that required only a minute amount of energy to sustain. Now, I had to go house shopping. I wondered if Minerva would be free some over the summer to help me look for a new residence. I can bring it up at lunch, I thought.
The End