I don't own Harry Potter...

A few weeks after Ron's birthday, Harry received an owl from Ginny. He went to their flat as the letter requested to find she had cleared out her stuff. He saw a note on the table and an envelope.

Harry,

I never wanted it to be like this. I love you more than anything; I always have and probably always will. Maybe someday we will find our way back to each other, but right now we are on the opposite sides of a fence and can't seem to find the gate.

The envelope contains the divorce papers that were sent to me. I signed them but it was far from an easy task. I know my family is worried. Assure them that I will contact them in a few weeks once I've settled myself and let you all know where I am.

I don't really know what happened to us Harry. How did it come to this? No, I know what it was. But I just can't get to where everyone else is so easily. I just can't believe it.

I will contact you soon.

With all my love,

Ginny, the former Mrs. Potter

Harry put down the note and opened the envelope. The papers were there just as she had written. They were signed and now ready for his signature. He took the pen that she had conveniently left for him on the table and signed his name.

So I guess that's it, he thought to himself, it's all over.

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News of the Potter divorce sweep through the wizarding world like a rabid swarm of doxies. The press was having a field day with the story and some of it focused on Hermione's role in the divorce. Some wrote it was the situation and others that she was romantically involved with Harry which made me absolutely sick. But that soon died down after mum finally went on record stating that an affair was not the cause of the split. Luckily, her word is essentially treated like Merlin's.

Hermione had apparently received quite a few howlers but not as many as she thought she would. When I was there last for dinner, she explained that she was constantly getting questions from the seventh year girls about Harry. Were they his type, etc, which she found revolting.

And on the same note, Harry was on the receiving end of increased attention from the female wizarding population. I, not to brag, had been named last year's most eligible bachelor, but my moment in the sun, so to speak, was definitely over. Since I only wanted to focus on 'Mione, it was a relief.

As I had promised Hermione, I had no intention of not seeing her and made sure that I attended two dinners during the week and spend most Saturdays or Sundays with her. Sometimes I would just relax and watch her read over a quidditch magazine. Occasionally, we shopped or visited Muggle places that Hermione missed. More and more, I could feel her opening up but there were still times when she'd shut off, obviously thinking about our betrayal of her.

Today, we were doing something special. We were going to put flowers on her parent's graves and then help Harry try to find a new flat. When we arrived at the cemetery, I stepped back to give 'Mione all the time she needed. When she made her way back to me I said to her, "I know you loved them very much and miss them. They know that too."

I had intended to be comforting, but she stopped and turned on a sickle to face me. "Ron, can I ask you something?" I nodded for her to go ahead. "How could you ever believe that I would side with the people who murdered my parents?"

I looked away for a moment and answered her truthfully, "I don't know. It really doesn't make any sense."

"I wish you had thought that way before. Maybe people would have investigated harder."

"You know I'm sorry, I can't keep saying it."

"I know. I just wondered."

"The theory among the Aurors was that you were ashamed of your background so their deaths were a type of freedom for you from the past. Well, I guess that's how we reconciled it. There were also rumors that you were angry with them after they uncovered an alleged affair." She looked at me with a hurt expression. "I told you it was stupid." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Gullible, Ron, sometimes you will believe anything. But I guess most people would when they want to justify something. That's what my therapist Healer Wilder said. It makes sense." She gave me a smile and put her arm through mine. "Let's go find Harry."

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We planned to meet Harry at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley, but with the press attention, he sent us an owl asking us to meet at Ron's flat. It was actually going to be my first time there and I was anxious. When I entered I noticed a nice bachelor/masculine looking décor and it felt cozy and wonderful. It was like the Burrow meets Gryffindor common room.

Ron called out for Harry and we went to find him in the kitchen.

"Mate, your mail has more than doubled!" Ron exclaimed as he let an owl in and took its message before it flew off again.

The kitchen table, counters and floor were covered in mail for Harry. It was unbelievable.

"Hey Hermione." He greeted. "I've had a steady stream all morning." He pointed to the window where another owl had just appeared. "There was an article in the Prophet," he piled the article onto the top of the heap of letters.

The article by Rita Skeeter was entitled The Search for True Love, Harry Potter's New Quest. I tried to hide the grin forming on my face, but Harry saw it.

"Don't bite your lip Miss Granger; I'm living in a nightmare. Yesterday I had a few piles of mail mostly from well wishes and a few ladies, but today I have close to 100 letters and most of them marriage proposals."

I just couldn't help it, I burst out laughing and I couldn't stop. Soon we were all laughing. Harry tried to say while gasping for air, "Stop, this is serious." But we just kept going.

"It will die down mate," Ron assured him. "I got tons of mail after the Bachelor of the Year thing, but it died out."

"You were bachelor of the year?" I asked.

"Um, yea. Only because Harry was married." Ron defended but I looked up to see Harry's smile fade. Not long ago he was happily married and now…

"Don't say anything Hermione, it's not your fault. I'd rather have you out of Azkaban. If Ginny and I are meant to be, we will. Maybe we just need a break. Oh, Ron I don't think I'll make it to the Burrow this weekend for brunch. It's just too awkward."

"I understand but mum will be awfully disappointed. Harry, none of us blames you."

"You all will eventually."

"Same with me." I added.

"Stop it both of you," Ron demanded. "If Ginny is too blind and, well, ignorant to the truth that is her fault not yours. She'll be crawling back begging for all our forgiveness and groveling at your feet Hermione."

"What if she doesn't? I cost your mum her only daughter."

Now Harry had to his two knuts, "Mrs. Weasley would never think that way. With you she is happy to have one daughter back."

"So," Ron said, "I hope this means you'll be at the Burrow Harry and 'Mione, you can start coming again. Don't say no." He added knowing that I was about to protest.

"Come on; let's go find Harry a new flat." I commanded and we went on a search, like old times.

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None of the flats were right for Harry. Hermione even suggested the Shrieking Shack was looking like the best bet. There was a great cottage on the outskirts of Hogsmeade that I thought was more than perfect. He would have to purchase instead of let but it was roomy with a great backyard. Well worth the price, but Harry wasn't interesting in buying as a new divorcee.

That's when I came up with the brilliant plan. We dropped Hermione back off at Hogwarts and Harry and I went to the Three Broomsticks for a quick bite.

"Hey, you like my flat don't you? Why don't you just keep on staying there?"

"Ron, I need my own place. You've been great having me stay there but aren't you feeling crowded."

"Actually I was thinking that you could keep the flat and I would buy the house. I'd be closer to 'Mione and if, down the road, we get together she'd be close to work."

"Ron, aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself. I don't want you to be headed for a major disappointment and heartbreak."

"She's it Harry, she always has been."

"I know mate. How do you think she'd react to you living in the village outside Hogwarts though? Do you think she'd feel suffocated or maybe that you were stalking her?"

"I don't think so." I protested. "It's on the outskirts and it's not like I'll be sitting outside staring up at the castle. But, I'd be close for when she needed me."

"I'd run it by her first, just in case."

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Brunch at the Burrow sounded like an excellent idea to my therapist. She wants me to reconnect family ties or something. When I arrived Harry was already there. He looked like he was ashamed, sitting there alone at the table. Per usual, Ron grabbed me into a big bear hug as soon as I had walked in the door. He said that he had something very important to talk to me about. I had to admit I was nervous.

"Hello Mrs. Weasley," I said tentatively as I approached her in the kitchen.

"Oh, welcome dear and you can call me Molly." She didn't hug me but just patted my arm, she seemed distant and depressed.

"Everything looks wonderful; do you need any help with the rest?"

"No, I have it; you go see Ron."

The mood as the rest of the family arrived was very somber. Everyone was nice to Harry and me but I felt as though each look from them was an accusation that it was all my fault.

Suddenly, Ron grabbed my hand and pulled me out the back door. "I have some news, but I want to run it by you first."

For some reason the first thing that came to my mind was that he wanted to be sure it was ok with me for him to go out on a date. After the "bachelor of the year" news, I found it hard to believe he was still a virgin. But, what he said couldn't have been further from my thoughts.

"Remember the house in Hogmeade?"

"Of course, did Harry decide to buy it?"

"No, I did." I looked at him as though he had grown an extra pair of ears.

"Ron, why did you guy that house?"

"I haven't bought it yet, I'd just like to. Harry wanted me to be sure that it was ok with you first."

"Why does my opinion matter so much?"

"Because it would be closer to you, he thought you might feel like I was smothering you."

Harry had a point, it did seem like a big leap, "Are you asking me to move in with you? I thought we were taking everything slow."

"No, well, I'm not asking you yet. Maybe someday, but you'd live in the castle and I'd be close by for when you need me; plus I can come by more often."

For some reason I was really excited by this idea, but I didn't want to let on to him. "Well, it would be a good investment and all so maybe you should just go for it."

"Really? Well great, I'll talk to the guy selling it tomorrow." He reached down and gave me a kiss on the cheek and sauntered back inside.

I touched my and to my cheek, it felt so great, like I was loved. It reminded me of fifth year when I gave him a good luck kiss. Maybe this was how he felt.

Kind of a transitional chapter. We find out what happened to Ginny and the beginnings of the trial in the next chapter.