Author's Note: Notes at the bottom so I don't give anything away!

Hermione picked up the nasty, sweaty socks for what had to have been the third time this week and looked with dismay at the dishes in the sink. It seemed every morning she was up early making sure the flat was clean and homey, and by the time she got home from her job at the Ministry it was a wreck again. And as soon as she came through the door, Ron wanted to know what she was fixing him for dinner. As if he couldn't fix something himself.

She rubbed her temples as Ron came out of the bedroom, nibbling on a chicken leg. "Hey, Hermione. You're late. How was work? What's for dinner?" She couldn't help it. She just couldn't hold it in anymore. She screamed, a wordless cry. Then the words came out in a rush. "What's for dinner? You're eating what's for dinner. I had planned the dinner I cooked last night to last two nights. I told you I had a late meeting this afternoon."

"That's okay. You can make something else."

"No," she said, gesturing around.

"Or we could go out," he offered, a little uncertainly. He dropped the piece of chicken he was eating, letting it hang by his side. "What's got into you tonight?"

She dropped her beaded bag and gestured vehemently at the room around them. "This. Us. You. I can't do it anymore, Ron. I'm not your mother, I don't want to be your mother. I'm supposed to be your damn partner and I'm doing all the work. I come home and your clothes are everywhere. You want food, but you never cook. You leave the dishes everywhere. And we keep having the same fights again and again. I can't do this. I'm exhausted from living up to your expectations."

Ron crossed the room to her and tried to take her hand, but she wasn't having any of it. "I don't have any expectations, Hermione. I never asked you to clean up after me."

"But you won't clean up after yourself. And you expect me to put on a big show on all the holidays just like your mother does, and expect the dinners I've cooked to taste as good as hers when I'm exhausted from working all day."

"I'll clean up when it needs cleaning up. It's not my fault you're a neat freak and can't stand a little mess."

She stared at him, hardly able to believe her ears. "It's not about a pair of socks, or a plate here or there. I always have to be the adult in this relationship, and I'm sick of it. I make sure our bills get paid, that we see your mother, that the house isn't a wreck, that you get up for work on time. I can't do it all by myself anymore and you're not helping. I can't keep having this same fight with you again and again. That's it. I'm done." She groped around blindly for her beaded bag, knowing she'd already lost the battle not to cry. Tears streamed down her face.

"You can't be crying," he said, his voice nearly numb.

"Well I am, Ronald, and this isn't the first time, or the second time, or the third. How many times can we do this? I'm not doing it again. Ever." She dragged her sleeve across her face, wondering if there was anything else she had to have before she left. "Crookshanks!" she croaked. "Come here."

His face grew red and angry. "You can't go ahead and break up with me and cry about it like it's my fault. You just dumped me. I haven't done anything."

"You're right, Ronald. You haven't done anything. Well, I am crying, Ron. I love you, but it's not enough. I'm not happy the way things are. And truth be told, I don't think you're happy either. You hate it when I nag. I just can't go on like this. I'll be at Harry's. I'll come back for my things tomorrow while you're at work. I need some space." She pulled off her engagement ring and set it on the coffee table, scooping Crookshanks up in one arm, her bag dangling off the other. She Disapparated, still crying, and hoping she wouldn't splinch herself.

Author's Note: Haven't come back to this one in a long time. I got the idea for this one because a friend pointed out that while I've stopped pairing Ron and Hermione up, I've never found Ron a suitable replacement. I was brainstorming a bit on writing a Ron-centric story (probably a few chapters long) about what he would if Hermione broke up with him. I do imagine the pair of them dating for a time before realizing the relationship doesn't work long-term. This isn't it, but this 1-shot could very well be the first chapter of that story if the muses call it into existence. Enjoy!

Also, if you like these one shots, I think you'll like another one I did called "This Is Supposed To Be My Happy Ending?" It's basically a realistic epilogue for Deathly Hallows.