AN: Sorry no Snape in this chapter. I really wanted to get the Hermione backstory fleshed out as this will have a definite impact on events in future chapters. For anyone who has been in a semi-controlling relationship, I'm sure you can sympathize with Hermione in this chapter. Don't worry, our girl gets stronger.

Usual Disclaimer: My name is still not JK Rowling so I guess I still don't make money off of my work...someday...

The sun was starting to set over the buildings and trees as Hermione apparated back in front of her apartment. Glancing up, she saw the lights in her apartment ablaze and inwardly groaned. The engagement ring, back on her finger, felt like a lead weight as she crossed the street and mentally prepared herself as she usually did. She knew she was in for a long evening when all she wanted to do was to pour herself a glass of wine, and take the advice of Billy Joel to "take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while." Instead, she was going to have to figure out where she and Ron were going to go from here. Hermione smoothed her hair back from her face and made sure she didn't look like she had been crying. She knew Ron hated tears.

Why are you doing this? The thought popped into her head out of nowhere as she walked up the stairs. Feeling as if she had no choice, she pushed open the door to her apartment. Inside, she found Ron had attempted to make fish and chips (her favorite meal) and was sitting on her couch re-reading the wedding guest list. "Amazing" thought Hermione. "He acts like this afternoon hasn't even happened." She ignored him at first and went towards the loft to deposit her bag. Ron saw her and intercepted her before she got to the loft and tried to pull her into his arms for a kiss. Hermione stiffened and tried to avoid his lips but Ron persisted until he deposited a kiss on her lips that begged for more. Hermione fought down her repulsion at the contact and turned back towards the loft. Ron, however wasn't done with her. In almost a whiny voice, he said "I love you Mione. I can't wait for you to finally be my wife. Please….I need you…" Ron seemed to be begging her not for forgiveness, but for something more. Hermione shook her head and said "I need time to think about it, Ron. Maybe this whole argument happened for a reason."

A flash of anger passed across Ron's face as he growled "you've already said yes. You can't back out now. All of the invitations are out, your dress robes are on order and everyone has already made travel arrangements. How do you think everyone will feel when you tell them you decided to call off the wedding?" Softening his voice and pressing his middle against her, he cajoled " besides 'Mione…I love you. Please?" The last word was almost a begging demand. Hermione's shoulders slumped. She knew it was useless to keep badgering him…he wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted. Resigned, she said "FINE" and walked into the bedroom. Ron followed her already unbuckling his pants.

Two minutes later, Hermione came out of the bedroom rearranging her clothes as she headed for the bathroom. Ron followed her with a crushed bewildered look on his face as he stood outside the bathroom door waiting for her to come out. "'Mione, I don't know what aversion you have lately to making love to your fiancé. Are you sure someone didn't put an anti-sex charm on you? You need to learn to love your man the way a wife ought to."

Inside the bathroom, Hermione silently sobbed. Two minutes of closing her eyes and allowing his fumbling ministrations on her body until he finished…well before her body was even ready to begin…and he thought it was HER? Probably was…after all, she had had no one else to teach her. Maybe there really was something wrong with her because sex had turned out to be nothing like she had read in her romance novels. They set too high of an expectation. She wished she could stay in there forever, but knew she had to face Ron eventually. Hermione resolutely set her jaw, wiped her tears, and opened the door.

Ron immediately pulled her into an embrace she wanted nothing to do with. She still couldn't believe he wanted to forget like this afternoon didn't even happen. Ron sighed and said "I made you your favorite dinner and put on your favorite cologne and put on your favorite outfit of mine. Maybe that will help you out of the obvious funk you're in. You need to cheer up before the wedding."

Hermione looked over his shoulder and suddenly felt an absolute clarity in her chest. There would be no wedding. The problem was how to convince Ron of that. Knowing he would not take too kindly to her handing him the engagement ring for the second time that day, she knew she would have to take a different tactic. She pulled away from Ron, shook off the inner repulsion she had started to feel at his touch, and turned to face the street scene below, petting Crookshanks as she did.

"Ron…" she began. " Thank you for doing all these things for me. I guess I just need a few days to think about everything and to clear my head before the wedding. Things have just been moving so fast I haven't had time to breathe."

Ron looked at her and decided in his own way that she was right so he decided "ok Mione. Take a couple days away as long as you're not going to use them to break up with me. That way when you walk down the aisle next Saturday you are well rested and not this person I don't know."

Hermione inwardly cringed. Now that she thought about it, Ron was always putting things on his terms and had been since they were in school. Didn't she do all the work just so he could copy it? Didn't he always get mad when she or Harry or any of his siblings get more attention than he did? But at this current moment, she took the out he was offering her and told him, " ok then I guess I will see you by next Sunday."

"Next SUNDAY? I thought you only said a couple of days?"

"Ron, you say you want to make me happy, right?" Ron nodded with a look of shock and the tinge of anger not quite leaving his face. "Ok then, please give me these few days alone to clear my head and just to relax. It seems all I have done these past few weeks is wedding plans. Not that you've helped out a whole lot."

"I have too helped. Didn't I decide on the flowers, on the cake, and on the DJ List?" Hermione couldn't deny that. He had only pouted until he got his way with them, even to the point of backhandedly insulting Hermione's choices. She had finally agreed just to shut him up.

"Yes you have helped Ron. Anyhow, I'm going to go get my things and head out."

"NOW? It's evening. Don't you want to spend a romantic evening together before you leave?"

Not really thought Hermione. But, as usual, she didn't argue with Ron. Ron looked at her and said "I'll even let you pick the movie as long as I can have veto power." Then that's not really picking the movie now, is it? Hermione grumbled to herself. So she decided to test him on this one. "How about Twilight?" she asked knowing how much Ron hated teenage angst "girly" movies and this one in particular about its inaccurate werewolf portrayals.

Ron squinched his nose up as if he smelled something truly rancid and whined "are you doing this on purpose just to piss me off?" Then he reconsidered and trying to appease Hermione he said "fine, we'll watch Twilight."

They put the movie and neither of them really enjoyed themselves. Ron kept scooting closer to Hermione on the couch to put his arm around her and Hermione kept subconsciously scooting away from him. Since their argument this afternoon, it seemed like the thought of Ron being near her made her ill. Ron also kept making faces at the movie, not bothering to hide his displeasure but thankfully keeping his mouth shut. However, his attitude and her revulsion at his touch made for a rather uncomfortable night and Hermione was ever so glad when the credits rolled. She hoped Ron would get the hint and go back to Chudley tonight so she could sleep in peace. No such luck…

After the movie, Ron made no move to leave and instead plainly made his intentions to sleep over clear when he went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. Hermione went to the bedroom and changed into a very comfortable (and purposely not very sexy) pajama set consisting of an old t-shirt and cotton pants before getting into bed and scooting as far as she could to her side. Ron crawled into bed next to her wearing nothing and whined at the feel of clothing on her back. He always liked the "skin on skin" contact but it had always secretly turned Hermione off. But again, not wanting to cause a scene, she peeled off her pajamas and sighed when Ron pulled her close to him and fell asleep.

Hermione turned away from him as much as his strong, almost possessive, grip allowed and thought about where to go tomorrow. Her mind replayed the evening in her mind and felt uncomfortable in Ron's grip…almost as if she wanted to get as far away from him as possible. Knowing that tonight was a lost cause, she sighed one more time and let the tears silently fall as she waited to sleep to claim her.