Hermione had forgotten about last night, Hogwarts, and Tom, until she came downstairs to have breakfast. A bouquet of a dozen red roses in a glass vase was on the coffee table. Her parents were quietly whispering to each other as soon as she walked in the living room with a bowl of cereal because she was too tired to fix herself anything.

"Did dad buy you those? Is it your anniversary already?" she asked, before eating a spoonful of corn flakes with dried strawberries. She sat on the couch between them and stared at the roses.

"Your father would never get me these. They're for you. There's a card."

For a moment she smiled, thinking it was from Nicholas. She never thought that he had any feelings for her until his confession last night. At work, they mostly talked about the situation in the Ministry and sometimes about their time at Hogwarts. He played Quidditch, but only in the later years as one of the Beaters, because his father insisted. His father closely followed Quidditch matches. He himself played rugby in his heyday.

His parents were both Muggles and learned everything they could about the Wizarding world once they found out their son was a wizard. It was something they were in disbelief about until Headmaster Dumbledore had brought them to Diagon Alley. All the things that happened when he was younger started to make sense. She had the same thing happen to her parents. She didn't realize just how much they had in common.

Hermione finished her cereal and placed the empty bowl down on the table before reaching for the card. By the writing on the front, she knew who it was from and didn't bother to read the rest.

"Mum, you can keep them or throw it in the bin."

"What's wrong?"

"It's from Tom," she answered, and put the card down on the table. The tears were forming. Not again. She ran up the stairs to her room. The last thing she wanted was for her parents to see. They actually liked him and still watched his matches. She didn't have the heart to tell them that he broke up with her and left. She felt like she let them down. That she wasn't good enough.

Hermione couldn't believe his audacity to act as if he hadn't hurt her all this time. Weeks, she cried over him. She hoped that he would come back to her, but now that he was making an effort, she hated him for it. He had weeks to apologize to her, and not once did he say sorry in any shape or form.

She stomped back down the stairs and to the living room. Hoping for an apology, she picked up the card and opened it.

"I would like to talk about us. Let me know when we can meet. TMR."

Of course, there was no apology. He didn't just rip her heart into a million pieces without an explanation, but wanted her back without reason. "Arse," she crumpled the card and picked up the roses from the vase. The water dripped from the stems as she walked to the kitchen to throw it in the bin. Did he think that she was easy, and give in? A part of her wanted to, the side of her that still loved him, but she knew she deserved better.

There was a time, he was kind and loving. Tom had been a wonderful boyfriend in their early years of courtship and romance. He pursued her during their Fifth Year, telling everyone that he was going to ask her to the Yule Ball. Not a single person asked her, except for him, the night before. She said no because he made her wait, until he fessed up he had been too nervous.

They had an amazing time with friends and remained close. She declined to be his girlfriend. She thought they were a bit young and wasn't ready. It wasn't until Sixth Year, she finally said yes to him. They studied together, and went to Hogsmeade often. It was like any teem romance, she thought. They shared so many first times and had so many memories together.

Tom was sweet and kind. He always showered her with gifts when he first signed a contract with the team. They found a flat they could afford and moved in together. She had to break the lease after he left her. Luckily, the landlord was understanding, since they always paid on time and only a couple of months were left on the lease.

After Hogwarts, they had their fair share of ups and down, but nothing that they weren't able to work through. Hermione couldn't see her future without him in it. They even discussed marriage at some point until adulthood got in the way. She began to work more hours at the Ministry, and he started training with Puddlemere United. It was a dream come true for him, but it became her worst nightmare. Never did she imagine that he would walk away from it all, leaving her to mend her broken heart.

She hated him for being okay. She hated him so much, but still loved him. He made such a fool of her. She was a wreck, and all because of him.

How could he send her roses, thinking it would be okay. He wanted to meet and talk. Did he think it was that easy and simple? Did he not see her heartbreaking in front of him last night? How could he be so blind and full of himself. This was not the Tom she loved and fell in love with. This was a man, she did not recognize.

His steel gaze last night was different from the way he used to look at her. He stared at her with possessiveness when she was with Nicholas. It was the same way he used to look at her whilst she was with Harry and Ron when they were attending Hogwarts. Tom didn't like her spending too much time with them. They were her best friends and had known them since the first day they met inside Hogwarts Express.

She didn't belong to him, she told him. Eventually, those conversations died down, and she forgave him. They would make up in empty corridors before someone came.

Hermione was always the one to forgive, and try to make things work. How could she be so blinded by love? She swore she wouldn't be one of those people, who kept going back, but she did. Time and again, they would come close to breaking up, and she would be the one to fight for them. The makeup sex was always the best. He would be gentle, then rough. He always knew how to make her feel good after an argument.

Hermione had fallen into her own trap. There were so many times she should have walked away. Instead, she stayed and tried to make it work. This was for the best. She had to remain strong and not give in. There weren't enough roses in the world that would make her take him back, she told herself. She had to believe it, or she would come running back to him.