Chapter #12 –The Several Affairs of the Heart

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, any of the characters in the book, or anything else related to the book.

A/N: I, obviously, know nothing about divorce in the 'magic world' so just bear with me. I tried to make it logical, hopefully it is. I did make up a department in the Ministry. I couldn't figure out how else to do it…it's called the 'Department of Marital, Custodial, and Related Concerns' I know, it's lame, but it works…kind of. And 'Related' was meant as in also concerning, or other things regarding things like custody battles, divorces, etc. Also, I officially ruled out the affair (between Harry and Hermione). Note: Ron still thinks that Jack is his son.

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Ron made his way through the busy people. He tried to hold his head high and keep his posture up. He was heading to the Department of Marital, Custodial and Related Concerns. There was a small itch in the back of his thoughts that repeatedly tried to convince him that Hermione should be with him. But he couldn't get a hold of her. He sent three unanswered owls. Each of which told her to meet Ron at the Ministry at nine o'clock. It was quarter-passed and she still hadn't arrived. He concluded she wasn't going to come. His father had offered him all the necessary information about his inquiries. Apparently all he had to do was come here and tell a panel of people why he didn't want to stay married to her and then they would consider his points. They would discuss it for all of five minutes and then tell him whether or not he would be granted with his request. Then they were to hand their wedding bands in and they would be destroyed. And then that was the end. His father also noted that there weren't many separations in the magical community. Supposedly it was looked upon badly by elders. Ron intended on being persuasive with the panel, but he was knowledgeable of his bad social skills and his tendencies to blurt out potentially harmful things. But he had spent all morning getting ready, bracing himself for their ideals, writing an essay in his mind and thinking of what they might throw in his face. He arrived at a waiting area. He scanned the room to see a bundle of faces, three of which stood out.

"Hello Ronald," Hermione stood up and enveloped him in a short hug as he approached, "I received your owls. All three of them,"

"Hey Hermione," Ron replied before looking towards Harry and Jack and smiling. He noticed how Jack clung to Harry's shirt. And how he hadn't even greeted his own father, "You never replied, and you didn't meet me out there at nine. I just figured you weren't coming."

"We came directly here. I hope you don't mind if Harry stays out here with Jack."

"No, it's fine," was his tender reply. He didn't want to get Hermione on his bad side. He had hoped she wouldn't come; he convinced himself it would be fair if the panel heard his opinions before hers. She had a way of influencing people with all her intelligent words. Hopefully they would grant him with the first opportunity to speak.

A stout woman came out of a nearby door and began to announce a name, "Weasely? Weasely?"

"Err, that's us." Ron replied softly. The woman guided them through a hallway and into a room occupied by five people. They sat at a table at the head of the room. It directly faced two chairs. He assumed they were his and Hermione's. The woman spoke again, "Sit."

They both complied while sneaking a look at the panel. On the left side sat two men, one of which had dark hair that was graying in spots, a dark complexion and narrowing features. He was dressed in a grey suit with a simple blue tie and held the appearance of a man in his fifties. Hermione glanced at his name tag. Only his surname was visible from her angle: Parker.

The man next to him was dressed in a more casual attire: a white polo and khakis. His hair was a mass of messy blonde locks falling just above his shoulders. He looked no older than Hermione and Ron.

On the right side sat two women. One was at least sixty, her grey hair was cut short against her head and her eyebrows were drawn on with a contrasting brown. The lady next to her seemed to be rather young; her eyes were a noticeable blue and her hair a fierce shade of red. She was at least thirty, though looks can be deceiving. A shiny engagement ring flashed in the light as she quickly fixed her hair.

In the center sat an older man, the only of the five to be clad in robes. They were an elegant shade of forest green. His hairline was receding due to the obvious arrival of baldness. He coughed rather loudly to avert their attention directly towards him.

"Ronald and Hermione Weasely, you have asked for a meeting with a panel to induce a separation of your marriage. We will ask you why. Please stay calm. We don't like yelling." His voice seemed bored already. He continued to drone on, "We understand that you have a son together. We do not support separation when there are kids involved. We are also aware that you are awfully young to have children. Oh, kids these days." He shook his head and then glanced over to Ron. "Mr. Weasely, You may begin."

He inhaled rather deeply before glancing over at Hermione. "She left me. We aren't even living together anymore. I don't know where she lives. Furthermore, she took our kid with her. Plus, I-I've found s-someone else." He struggled with the last sentence, hopefully that will give them enough reason to push it through. Even if he didn't have anyone else, lying would surely help.

"Someone else? Hm," The man considered, "Are you aware how irresponsible that is when you have a child and—"

"Sorry to interrupt," Hermione intervened, "B-but Jack. Well Jack isn't his kid. And as for him finding someone else, well, I've got someone else, too."

She didn't look back at Ron. She didn't want to hear him or address him. She knew that issue had to be brought up. She wasn't going to lie when the truth was enough. She felt so awful about how Ron must be feeling.

"Hermione, what do you mean?! We took that God Damned test and it proved he's my son." He began to yell, his voice rising ever so slightly. The man in the robes let out a sigh. He truly wished they would promote him.

"I lied." She was frank, she was blunt. And she didn't care.

"Are you joking? Lying? You don't have to lie to push the divorce through!" he screamed, tears falling from his cheeks.

"I'm not lying, Ron."

Ron let his head fall as he shook it back and forth. "You-you," he searched for a decent word to call her; all he could come up with was liar so he let the silence settle in.

The man in the middle raised his eyebrows before speaking, "Well, I see this is enough material to push the divorce through. We don't even have to vote on it!" he exclaimed rather happily, "Oh, and as for the little boy. That was a horrid thing to do to a man. Don't you have any common sense?"

The guy stood up and walked out, followed by the four others. That was short, sweet and to the point: just how he liked it. Though, Ron and Hermione still stood in the room. The silence was a bit of an annoyance so Hermione decided to leave. Ron stood alone for a bit, contemplating the last few months of his life, the last few years. Jack wasn't his. Jack was all he had lived for. The reason he gave up quidditch, the reason he settled for a normal job in a normal office. His life was a pathetic mess. He exited with tears still outlining his eyes and headed towards the main desk where he was to hand his wedding band in. He struggled to remove it from his sweaty finger. He didn't need the essay he had prepared; he didn't even need to speak. Hermione's words were enough to end their marriage, enough to end their friendship. If only she hadn't got into that accident and Harry hadn't returned. If only.

And then it dawned on him as he turned to face Harry and Hermione. Harry was Hermione's someone else. She left Ron's and went to Harry's. That's why she wouldn't answer. That's why he hadn't seen her in such a short while. He stormed over towards them, his hands inadvertently forming fists.

"What the hell, Hermione?"

"Ron, I don't want to talk about it here."

"Why not? Now is better than never," he bellowed, slowly moving closer to her.

"Mate, get out of her face," Harry intervened, holding his arm out to prevent Ron from getting any closer.

"You! You bastard," Ron's face welled up. He felt his arm rise unconsciously and come crashing against Harry's face. But Harry didn't fall to the ground as a small bruise began to form on the side of his face. He angrily punched Ron back. And this time the receiving end fell brutally to the ground.

"Harry!" Hermione squealed. He glanced down at Ron who then apparated away. "C'mon, let's go home."

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Ron fell onto his couch and closed his eyes, hoping to catch some sleep before he had to face Hermione again. But what caught his attention were the small whimpers coming from the other room. He wearily got off the couch and headed into the kitchen. Ginny stood over the sink, her head sagging rather low.

"Ginny?"

She spun around to reveal her red face and tear-stained cheeks. "Yes, Ron."

"Come 'ere." He whispered before taking her in his arms. "Mom was looking for you,"

"I know," her voice was muffled against his shirt.

"Are you avoiding her?"

"Maybe,"

He laughed slightly before continuing, "Why?"

"I don't know. She always had that way of getting stuff out of us and I-I"

"What are you hiding?" He pulled her off his chest and looked into her eyes. He saw such vulnerability in her eyes he wanted to kill whoever put it there.

"I don't want to talk about it,"

"I figured," he laughed, "But it's not right avoiding her. Why don't you go and stop by the Burrow? Don't pull yourself away again. Please? Do it for me,"

She raised her eyebrows and then smiled, "Fine, I'll be back in a little bit."

"Bye," he added before she left with a crack.

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"Harry, I'm serious!"

"How can you be considering leaving? I already tried it and it didn't work out so well. We can't just drop off the face of the earth. We have responsibilities and you, of all people, should know that."

"Harry, I just want to leave. To get out of this mess." Hermione pleaded with him.

"Running away solves nothing."

"Then what will fix all of this?"

"Talking to Ron." Harry confirmed her greatest doubt would have to become a reality. "I'll do it with you."

"You better." She laughed before glancing at Jack in Harry's arms. They were currently walking down Diagon Ally. She noticed how several onlookers had taken interest in them. She had forgotten that to all of them she was currently married to Ron, who was quite popular in the magical community. After the war they had been deemed heroes. But Harry had eventually dodged the limelight, causing it to spill onto them. She remembered how her marriage to Ron was plastered across the Daily Prophet. It was unfortunate that it was publicized; maybe the papers made it more than it was. Perhaps if Harry was still talking to them at that time things would have been different. Hopefully their current situation wouldn't end up in the papers. It was the last thing they needed.

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A/N: Yep. They are OFFICIALLY divorced. Finally! Hopefully the divorce thing wasn't super lame. I tried to make it work. But now that their marriage is over the story can go in so many different directions. Thanks for reading:)