A.N. - Happy reading!

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Special thanks to the reviewers: mglblood [Thank you! I put a huge amount of effort into them, so glad you like them], ElizColl [Thanks so much for the feedback! I do enjoy writing this Draco]; FayKatriona [Thanks!], Belieber Twihard [Thanks!], Guest [Thanks, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!]

Arriving in her flat, Crookshanks was sitting on the couch, fluffy tail waving back and forward in warning.

'Oh, Crooks, I'm sorry about your breakfast,' Hermione said, patting the grumpy cat on the head as she passed him to reach the kitchen.

Hermione quickly pulled out the cat food and put it in his bowl on the ground. Crookshanks came in and sat by his bowl. Glancing at it, he immediately looked at her with accusation.

'No, Crooks, just because it is late does not mean you get tuna. It is that or nothing.'

Crookshanks batted the bowl of food and it skittered across the floor – only staying upright thanks to the spell Hermione had on it.

'Suit yourself,' she replied, scratching his neck and turning on the kettle to have a nice cup of tea.

As the kettle boiled, Hermione flicked her floo to receiving and opened the owl window. Crookshanks took up his favourite place under the owl window.

'Don't even think about it, Crooks,' Hermione called from the kitchen where she was pulling out a caramel and salt flavoured black tea.

It was only a moment later that the floo whooshed and looking dejectedly at her still brewing tea, Hermione sighed and moved towards the lounge.

Should have had my tea before opening the floo connection.

A shriek pulled her from her lament. Looking up startled, she saw Ginny standing in front of her, jaw dropped.

'Morning, Ginny. Do you have to scream so loudly inside?' Hermione asked, rubbing her ear.

'Why are you wearing,' Ginny gestured frantically, but unable to come up with a word, continued with, 'thatand why is Ron moping around mum's house?'

Sod it! I should have gotten changed and then had tea before I opened the floo.

'I borrowed this from a friend when I crashed in their spare room last night after drinking too much. Ron is moping because we broke up last night,' Hermione explained wearily. 'I'm making tea, give me a second to get us a mug each and we can sit down and I'll explain everything.'

Ginny looked at her with judgemental eyes, like she was trying to figure out if Hermione was telling the whole truth.

'Okay,' Ginny replied warily and sat primly at the table.

Hermione made the tea and brought out the steaming mugs.

I wish I had a calming draft around to spike Ginny's mug…

Placing the tea on the table, Hermione sat opposite Ginny and wrapped her hands around her mug. The warming comfort ebbing through into her fingers.

'Ron,' Ginny prompted.

'Ron stood me up again. It was an hour and a half before he remembered me, he was so wrapped up in his work – again! He politely sent me a message that he was going to be longer, but I should go and pick up Chinese for the pair of us and we could meet at his place to do the dirty – I got that message in a very full pub.'

Ginny cringed. 'I'm sure he didn't realise you were in a pub.'

'He should have, that's where we were supposed to meet.'

'So you broke up with him for only that?'

'No, I broke up with him because that was the third time in a fortnight – and it has happened before that – I've explained that it upsets me, and every time he promises not to do it again, but he does. He admitted that work is more important to him than me.'

Ginny gave her a sympathetic look. 'Who would have thought Ron would actually knuckle down over something that wasn't Quidditch,' she said and offered a weak smile.

Hermione raised an eyebrow in reply. 'That's not all. I don't love him like I used to, I miss passion. I've tried to reignite it with Ron - for months - but it's gone and not coming back. I can't handle no passion on my part and little respect from Ron.'

'Oh, Hermione, I'm sorry it had to come to that. Ron will understand eventually… unless you have changed your mind. He will take you back—'

'No, Ginny, it is over – it's better this way.'

'Are you absolutely sure? I know you were mad about being stood up again, and for it to happen so recently – but surely what Ron was working on was urgent.'

'It wasn't – his boss is away until next Wednesday and it was his only project that he was working late to finish.'

'Oh,' Ginny answered, unsure what to say.

The two sat in silence as they drank their tea.

'So what is with the bathrobe? I didn't think you had any Slytherin friends.'

'More acquaintance or work colleague than friend, I suppose.'

'Oh, Hermione, you didn't,' Ginny said in a disappointed tone.

'What?'

'Blaise Zabini.'

Blaise was a complete rake in the Ministry and worked in the same department as Ginny. Every time Hermione had visited her friend, Blaise had hit on her – of course, he hit on every young female in the Ministry.

'Oh, Merlin, no!'

Ginny pressed her hand to her chest. 'Thank Merlin.'

'No, like I said, nothing happened. I met up with them at the pub while waiting for Ron, after breaking up, I went back and had way too much to drink. Draco just took me home since he doesn't know my address.'

'Draco, as in Draco Malfoy!' Ginny shrieked so loudly that Hermione had to cover her ears.

Just couldn't keep my mouth shut.

'Do you know any other?'

'Ron is going to be crushed!' Ginny replied.

'Ron doesn't have to know I slept in Draco's guest room.'

'YOU WHAT!' a shout burst from behind her.

Swivelling in her chair, Hermione looked at Ron in horror. 'Ron, what are you doing here?'

'I came to talk some sense into you, but clearly you have none left if you slept with Malfoy,' Ron spat.

'I did notsleep with Draco,' Hermione snapped. 'I slept in his guest room as I was too drunk last night to apparate myself home.'

'So Malfoy took you home,' Ron snarled.

'Well I'm glad he didn't leave me lying passed out in the pub booth.'

'Why would you be partying with Malfoy after we just broke up?' Ron judged.

'I wasn't partying, I was trying to forget,' she snapped back.

'So what, he decided to get you drunk - he could have done anything to you!'

'I was safe with him.'

'You can't know that!'

'Yes, I can. And I was right.'

'How would you know, you were drunk!'

'Ron!' Ginny gasped, horrified at what he had just implied.

'Get out, Ron, this is why I didn't want to see you for a week,' Hermione demanded, pointing at the fireplace.

'You're kicking me out because I'm concerned about you!' he exclaimed in outrage.

'No, I'm kicking you out because you just thoughtlessly accused my work colleague of raping me without my knowledge when he actually was a complete gentleman and protected me andbecause you are shouting at me andbecause I told you to stay away for a week. Now get out before I force you to.'

Ron growled and stalked back to the fireplace, shouting out 'The Burrow' before the swoosh signalled his departure.

'Whoa, that was intense,' a pale Ginny half-chuckled with nervousness.

'Now you see,' Hermione answered, reassuring her upset friend.

'Yes. Well, I'll send some owls and you will go and get dressed. I'll be back in thirty minutes. When I am, we are going to get some retail therapy sorted… for both of us.'

Hermione smiled and her shoulders dropped. 'That sounds great.'

Ginny nodded and quickly left. Deciding to change before she had any more visitors, Hermione hurried to her bedroom.

.*.

Ginny insisted on shopping up a storm to buy Hermione an entirely new wardrobe, despite Hermione's determination that she really didn't need the new items bar books. That evening when she returned home alone, laden with more bags of clothes than she needed or desired, she found Harry waiting outside her front door.

'Harry, what are you doing here?' she said.

'We had plans – remember? Movies and pizza night,' Harry replied, holding up a pile of movies he was keen on seeing.

'Oh, right, well- erm- come on in,' she said, opening the door and stepping out of the way and allowing him to enter.

'Great,' Harry answered as he stepped through, shrugging off his coat and putting it on a hook by the door. 'I've got a few good ones here; some action, some comedy, and a few that should be both,' he continued as he made his way to the lounge and plonked down on the sofa.

Hermione watched him with indecision, before dropping her bags and pulling out her mobile to call the local pizza place for their usual order for one pumpkin, feta, and cashews pizza and one vegetarian pizza. After completing the order, Hermione grabbed two butterbeers and handed one to Harry as she sat down to choose a movie.

'Erm- Harry…'

'Yeah?'

'Did you, umm, by any chance have you seen, umm…'

Harry turned to see his friend picking Crookshanks hairs off the sofa.

'Is something wrong, Hermione?'

'Have you seen Ron today?' she asked anxiously.

'No; he always sleeps late on weekends and I was playing a quidditch game with some aurors this afternoon. Why? Did something happen during your date last night?'

Hermione bit her lip.

'Hermione, you're starting to scare me, what's wrong?'

'Ron never showed up for the date. He got caught up with work again.'

Harry swore under his breath.

'An hour and a half late, he sent a message saying he had forgotten and asked me to pick up dinner and meet at his place for some fun.'

Harry shook his head in his hands with disbelief at his friend's thoughtlessness on how Hermione might take such a message.

'I left the pub I had been waiting in and went to the office. I broke up with him.'

Harry's head shot upwards and jaw dropped as he looked at Hermione.

'You what‽' his voice cracked.

'I broke up with Ron. I don't love him passionately and he said that his work was more important to him than me.'

'I'm sure he didn't mean it like that,' Harry rushed to assure.

'He did,' Hermione's eyes flashed slightly with something that made Harry lean away slightly.

'Do you think that you could give him another—'

'Another chance? No, we're over,' she replied with certainty.

'Are you—'

'Yes, I'm certain.'

'Okay.' Harry sat quietly for a few moments, sipping his butterbeer. 'I always hoped you two would find love in each other, but things don't always work out as planned or the way someone else hopes. If you are sure, then I'll be supportive – of you both while you two are working through the break up; while I certainly understand your reasons for ending it, I'll also be there for Ron if he needs me.'

'Of course, thank you, Harry,' Hermione replied with a grateful smile.

The two sat in silence for a short while longer. Hermione wondering what to say to raise the mood, Harry worrying.

'Why didn't you come and talk with me afterwards?' Harry eventually asked.

'I left my bag at the bar and went back to get it,' Hermione replied, a light blush starting to claim her cheeks.

'And,' Harry prompted, eyeing her flushed face.

'I stayed with a colleague who was drinking with friends, got thoroughly sloshed, and was too drunk to apparate myself home. My colleague, who doesn't know where I live, took me back to their place to sleep off the alcohol.'

'I notice you never said who the colleague was… or if they were female. '

Hermione cringed slightly. 'They weren't female – but nothing happened!'

'It's okay, Hermione, I know you wouldn't jump into bed with someone immediately after breaking up with Ron; you two were together for a year and you have far more class than that.'

But I tried too…Another voice in her mind defended her actions: you were drunk!The first voice returning promptly with a snide: like you wouldn't have even if you weren't drunk. The second voice snapping: If that was the case, I wouldn't have demanded one week.

'Hermione,' Harry prompted.

'Promise you won't flip out?'

'You have to ask?'

'Yes.'

Harry groaned, 'Hermione, that leaves two options; one of Ron's brothers or Draco Malfoy. Which is it?'

Damn that auror training!

Hermione glanced away and muttered her answer.

'I missed that, Hermione.'

Huffing, Hermione turned to face Harry and said clearly, 'Draco Malfoy.'

'You went home with Draco Malfoy and didn't jump in his bed?' Harry asked sceptically.

Hermione shot Harry a sour look.

'Oh, come on, don't look at me like that. I've seen you two in a room together before. You both try to hide it, but you don't see anyone else, your eyes follow each other with an intensity which is indescribable.'

'What!' Hermione gasped.

'Please,' Harry replied, 'I'm an auror, I am trained and paid to notice things. Although even Ron noticed something – why do you think he forbade you to spend time with Malfoy?'

'We never did anything!'

'I trust you, but there is plenty of chemistry there. I'm actually surprised you didn't do anything; given you were drunk, single, and with someone you find' gag 'attractive.'

Hermione rolled her eyes, 'It is just a word, Harry.'

'You aren't the one forced to say it about someone you spent years hating.'

Hermione raised her eyebrow.

'Okay, maybe you spent years hating him, but that's different.'

'Of course, Harry, it must be awful for you,' Hermione teased in a patronising tone.

Harry scowled, but soon joined her in laughter. When they sobered once more, he asked, 'Are you happy about these decisions, Hermione?'

'They are the right decisions, while the first did not make me happy, I accept it. The second does.'

'Fine, I'll be nice to him then.'

'Fortunately for you, you will get a one week reprieve to learn to stomach the thought,' Hermione consoled.

'You are staying out of a romantic relationship for a week?'

'Yes, it is the right thing to do.'

'Does Ron know?'

'No.'

Harry sighed. 'When will you tell him? Not at the Burrow tomorrow!'

'No, no, I'll not be going tomorrow. I'll tell him in a week, I wanted him to have some time to realise our break up is for the best.'

'I think he will realise he has lost a gem,' Harry scoffed.

'But not the right gem for him,' Hermione replied, not bothering to argue the effusive praise.

'Hmm, alright, I'll try and help the process along so he isn't hit too hard on you moving on so quickly.'

'Thanks, Harry,' Hermione replied, leaning forward and bussing his cheek.

'Yeah, yeah, I'm a wonderful friend to you. Since I'm doing this, I'm choosing the movie tonight – and you won't like it.'

'Fair enough,' Hermione replied with a shrug, only to flinch when Harry pulled out a horror.

'I thought you only brought comedy and action movies.'

'I'm a wizard, Hermione,' Harry laughed, and put on the movie just as the doorbell announcing pizza rung.

A.N. - Next chapter will go up soonish :) Please let me a review, they are brilliant as creativity food.