One Word

Revenge

Luna Lovegood once told Hermione that revenge was a double edged sword ruled and most of the time you only ended up hurting those you love. Hermione scoffed at the time but now she completely understood the nutty blonde's reasoning. Watching the light leave Harry's eyes as he watched her memories of earlier, drove Luna's meaning home.

After leaving the party, Hermione lost no time in gathering reinforcements. Draco and Blaize had made numerous enemies during and after the war. One of those enemies wielded enough power that in less than thirty minutes, a special branch of the unspeakables began positioning themselves around Hermione's apartment building. Soon all hell would be unleashed on the occupants of her apartment and the back lash of tonight's raid would be felt for years to come.

In good conscience, she couldn't allow Harry to find out about Ginny's betrayal from some cold unfeeling government official. She knew from the start that this course of action would affect more lives than just her own but to see Harry's pain first hand was heart breaking.

At the moment Harry was sitting on the couch, facing the fire, staring blindly into the green and yellow flames. Shock showed clearly in his eyes as Hermione went to sit next to him and took his hand, holding it tightly.

"You know I would protect you and James with my life. I only want what is best for the both of you and would never hurt you intentionally. I'm so sorry Harry."

He continued to stare into the fames and spoke in horse whisper. "I knew things weren't right from the moment we brought James home from the hospital. She wouldn't touch him. No matter how much I begged or pleaded with her. She would just look right through him like he didn't even exist." his voice broke with emotion. "I tried everything I could but she just didn't want him, didn't want me."

Hermione watched as a tears slid down Harry's face. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have helped."

Harry squeezed her hand tighter. "There wasn't anything you could have done. Honestly I don't thing there was anything anyone could have done. The war changed us all and I think getting married as young as we did just hid the pain that Ginny experienced. Instead of facing the problems head on and dealing with it, she buried it. I loved her so much that I didn't bother to stop and think."

"Don't tell me you blame yourself for her behavior Harry. No one forced her into my apartment and no one shoved her into bed with Blaize and Draco. She did all that herself. She is the one that has ruined her own life. She could have gotten help, she could have told you there was a problem and the two of you could have worked it out. Don't for one moment think that any of this is your fault,' she pleaded.

Harry sighed heavily and got to his feet. His tennis shoes made a scuffing sound as he left the room. Hermione did not go after him but sat on the couch and gathered her thoughts. She truly felt sorrow for Harry and James. She would give anything to have a husband that loved her as much as Harry loved Ginny and have a child with him.

Hermione was brought out of her thoughts as Harry joined her once again. She noticed he had changed from his sweatpants and t-shirt into his dark blue Auror robes. "I have to go see it Hermione. I have to see for myself that she's there."

Hermione looked like she wanted to protest but he cut her off. "I know this isn't mine or James's fault. We have done everything we could have done to help her. I think if I see it for myself I can finally let her go. Let the Ginny that I thought I knew go."

Hermione didn't know what to say. She understood where he was coming from, especially since he also had James to think about. "Are you sure Harry? She is after all James's mother."

"You have been more of a mother than Jenny ever has. I don't think she's even spent an entire day alone with him. Once she got the beater position with the Harpies, she stopped spending any time at home. There was always a promotional party she had to attend or a sponsor she needed to meet. I tried so many times to get her to stay, take some kind of interest in James but nothing worked. A couple of weeks ago we got into a bad fight and she stormed out. She's been sleeping in the guestroom down the hall or at the Harpies apartments."

"So it's been a long time since the two of you were intimate?" Hermione blushed a little at the question but curiosity got the better of her.

"Merlin Hermione, I can't even remember the last time she even let me touch her. Every time I tried to get close she would pushed me away for one reason or another. Finally I just stopped trying. You don't know how many times I have wished to have my Ginny back, the Ginny I married. I even went so far as to cast an anti-curse spell on her hoping to find a cause for her behavior," he said guiltily as he once again stared at the dying flames.

"Did she have a curse cast on her?"

"I hoped with everything in me that there was, but no. There was no magic detected, dark or otherwise. Whatever caused the drastic change in her personality is on her shoulders. If I go and see her there tonight, it will absolve me of my guilt. It will allow me to finally get into my brain that our marriage is over.

Hermione cleared her throat and moved to stand behind Harry. She put her hand on his shoulder and turned him to face her. "Closure, you need closure."

Harry nodded his head as a few stray tears slid down his cheeks. "What about you? You've only talked about how this has affects me and James. I know you loved and trusted Blaize. How are you dealing with all this?"

It was the concern and love she heard in her best friend's voice that pulled her over the edge and into an emotional break down. Her face crumpled and great heart wrenching sobs tore from her throat. Harry wasted no time in gathering her shaking body in his arms, trying to giver her as much comfort as possible.

She told herself she cried for Harry and James, for the Weasley's and the pain tonight would cause but she knew the real reason behind her sorrow. She was being selfish; her tears were for her lost dreams, her lost future. She truly believed Blaize loved her, wanted to build a future together. She was wrong, so wrong.

After several minutes her tears began to dry. "You know everyone told me that he had a hidden agenda, that I was a fool for believing his lies. They were all right, every single one of them was right."

Harry pulled back and looked her in the eye. "The next time I see Severus Snape, I will make sure to tell him you think he was right all along."

Hermione's red rimmed eyes grew wide and a slight smile graced her lips. It began with a chuckle from Harry and soon the two were laughing so hard they couldn't breathe.

The laughter soon subsided and the pair collapsed onto the couch, both grinning like mad loons. "I needed that. I haven't truly laughed in such a long time," Hermione said disgustedly as the hall clock chimed the midnight hour.

With a sigh Harry got to his feet and extended a hand to Hermione. "I guess it's time."

Hermione took his hand and squeezed tightly. "Yes it is. I think its time for us to meet our mistakes head on."

Harry smiled sadly pulling Hermione loosely into his arms. "As long as we do it together Moine, as long as we do it together."

And with a soft pop, they were gone.