The smell of fresh coffee woke Hermione out of a fitful sleep. She had not been able to get very comfortable last night in Ron's arms and every time she tried to relax, Ron would pull her closer and kiss her neck, causing Hermione to pull away and the cycle to begin again. But coffee sounded real good to Hermione as she padded to the bathroom.

Ron handed her a mug of coffee fixed just the way he thought she liked it as she came out of the bathroom. Hermione tasted it and immediately went to the cupboard for more sugar. Ron watched her silently, feeling dejected that she didn't have the decency to accept his coffee the way it was. As she sipped from her cup, Ron started peppering her with a barrage of comments and questions about where she was going and who she was going to see. He finally suggested to her "I wish you would go to the Burrow for a few days. Mum can spoil you, you and Ginny can talk wedding plans, and you would have your space from me that you wanted."

Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. She wanted to get away from everything related to the wedding, and that included Ron's family. Mrs. Weasely would be hounding her every step of the way about wedding plans and she certainly couldn't talk to Ginny about what a prat her brother was being. No, there was no way she was going to the Burrow. She set her coffee cup down on the counter and turned to feed Crookshanks before saying "no, I'm not going to the Burrow."

"Well then, where ARE you going to go? You don't have any other family. Wait, you can go stay with Harry for a few days. No, wait, Ginny won't be there and I'm not comfortable with you staying alone with another guy, even if he is going to be my best man."

Finally Hermione said, "well then I guess I'll just have to go to Hogwarts then. There won't be any objectionable people there for you to complain about and I can get some work done while I mull over our current situation."

Ron's face contorted strangely at the mention of "objectionable people" and said "as long as you stay away from Snape, I can accept that."

"SNAPE? Why can't I talk to my colleague? I'm not going to avoid him just because you say to."

"'Mione, I just don't think I can trust him around you. He'll probably fill your head with all sorts of lies about me just because he hates me."

"Why the bloody hell do you think he hates you? Severus has done nothing to you nor have you interacted with Severus much since Harry defeated Voldemort."

Deciding not to mention that he had seen the two of them hold hands just before they apparated yesterday, Ron just glared at Hermione and said "I just don't think I want my wife around him."

"I'm not your wife yet, Ron."

"You're as good as at this point and you would do well to remember that while you're gone."

Hermione, at this point, was rather pissed at him and glared at him. "Don't worry RONALD. I'm sure you won't let me forget." She sat down her coffee cup again, a little harder than she meant to, and stormed off to the bedroom. Ron was no more than half a step behind her the whole way, obviously not pleased that she actually was going to leave. He had thought that she would be happy at the thought he would allow her to leave but he didn't really think she would actually go.

Hermione pulled out her beaded purse and began shoving clothes into it. Ron noticed she seemed to take more clothes than was warranted for just a 3 day visit and angrily pointed that out to her. She ignored him and began stuffing shoes, a photo of her parents, and other odds and ends into her bag. When she was finished with the bedroom, she grabbed essential toiletries from the bathroom and headed to the loft. Rob followed her up the stairs and stood at the top of the stairs as she accioed several books and papers and notes into her bag. When she had stuffed almost her entire office into her bag, she turned to go down the stairs and found Ron blocking her only exit.

"Ron, what are you doing?"

"I just thought we could leave on a better note. You don't want to leave me like this do you? I need something to hold me over…"

Realizing that he meant sex, Hermione nearly vomited but managed to keep her composure. "Are you serious, Ron?"

"Well, it will be a long few days and I'll be in a grumpy mood if you don't do it with me."

And somehow it will be my fault again thought Hermione. But determination coursed through her now that she was packed. She almost felt free and excited to be going. She looked at Ron and thought for a moment before saying "make sure Crookshanks has his food."

Ron stared agape at her, disbelieving that she would actually leave without making love with him. He looked at her and said calmly "maybe while you're there you can brew a potion that will actually make you love your husband." With that, Ron disapparated.

Stung by the insult, Hermione stared speechless at the empty spot where Ron stood only moments before. Not believing everything had come to this, she glanced around the apartment, took a few more personal effects, and at the last minute, decided to shove Crookshanks in his carrier. Ron had threatened more than once in the past that if she left without the cat she would never get him back. She didn't want to take that chance. Satisfied that she had gotten everything she wanted, she took one last glance at the apartment, somehow knowing this would be one of the last times she would ever see it. She sighed for a moment, grabbed one more picture of Dumbledore's Army from her shelf, and shut the door.

She ignored the strange look she got from Mr. Hughes as she passed him. He surely heard the argument this morning from the flat but was too polite to say anything. He gave her a sad, knowing smile after she passed. Hermione resolutely crossed the street to the park and disapparated without looking back.

Hermione landed in Hogsmeade, not wanting to go up to the castle just yet. On a Friday morning before school was in session, the streets were eerily quiet, with only a few passersby glancing into the shops. Hermione glanced around her to make sure Ron hadn't done something stupid like follow her, and decided to stop in the Three Broomsticks for a drink.

Madam Rosmerta came right over to Hermione with a bottle of butterbeer as Hermione settled onto a stool. The lunch crowd had yet to arrive so the place was quiet for a moment. Sensing something was amiss but not wanting to pry, Madam Rosmerta patted Hermione on the hand and refused to take the two sickles for payment, despite Hermione's insistence. The barmaid looked at Hermione quietly and said "you look like you could use a bit of luck today, my dear." Hermione sighed and simply said "thank you" but offered no more reason as to why the bright potions professor was in Hogsmeade over the summer holidays.

Hermione sat on the stool aimlessly watching the occasional witch or wizard walk by the window until the lunch crowds started to arrive. First to arrive was Minerva McGonagall, whose keen eye went right to Hermione and without a word, pulled her into a motherly hug.

"Hermione it's so good to see you out. I was beginning to think you would be hidden forever in wedding plans, " the older witch said to her as she sat down next to Hermione.

"I just needed a few days away I guess. Things were getting very crazy. Is it alright if I stay at the castle for a couple of days?"

Remembering Ron's surprise visit yesterday, McGonagall assessed the frail look on Hermione's face along with the ring still on her finger and said "of course you can. Hogwarts is as much your home as it is mine. Now let's have lunch, shall we?" With that, the two women avoided the topic of Ron and the wedding and instead concentrated on the upcoming school year as they dined.