Authors Notes

So this story is well over half way done. As I stated when I first started posting this story. I have already completed this story, and being the glutton for punishment I am I have already started a sequel. I see that the story is being read. But I have no way of knowing whether you think the story is good or just a piece of Sh**. That is because no one has left any reviews. So let me know what you think.

In the next few chapters things are going to get very rough on Hermione. Hopefully she is strong enough to handle what is thrown at her.

Alright I know, Who am I kidding I already know how things turn out...However you will have to keep reading to see what happens.

18

The Damage is Done.

Once Hermione had a chance to calm down she knew she had been very harsh on Ron. She, however, did not know how to make things better with him. The night she left Grimwauld's place she got into another row with both Ron and Harry. She had said some very harsh things in anger. She still could not believe the things she had said. She tried not to think about that night, but she kept replaying it in her mind.

"HERMIONE STOP!" Ron grabbed her arm as she was packing some more of her things into her suitcase.

"Let go of me", she hissed, drawing her wand.

Ron stared at the wand. Hermione's face was red with rage.

"I swear Ronald if you do not let go I will hex you!"

Ron let go. He knew by the tone of her voice she would follow through on her threat.

"You would curse me", he asked in a quivering voice.

"If it meant I could get away from you…" Hermione shot back.

"Hermione, please lets talk about this." Ron pleaded.

Hermione ignored Ron as she continued to gather her things.

"Hermione, please don't throw us away. Not after all we have been through"

Hermione whirled on Ron.

"Us, there is no us Ronald! You just don't get it do you? It has always been me!

Helping you with your school work, helping you figure things out! When things got tough last year what did you do Ron?"

Ron stared at her. Not believing what he was hearing.

"You cried and moaned like a little baby. Then when things got really tough you ran out on us! I know I can be a heartless bitch, but at least I did not run out on my friends… I cannot believe I thought we could…"

Hermione did not finish what she was about to say. She saw the sudden pained expression on Ron's face.

"Go ahead" Ron whispered. "Finish what you were going to say"

Hermione turned away from Ron. She could not look at him. She knew what she was about to say. She had regretted what she had said the minute she voiced it, she was glad she stopped herself from saying anymore. However she had already said more than enough.

"That's me." Ron said. Hermione could see tears starting to form in Ron's eyes as he spoke. "The coward that ran out, you don't need to finish, you made yourself clear Hermione. I always knew I would never be good enough for you. I have always been too poor, not smart enough, and just not good enough to do anything without either yours or Harry's help. I can't believe I was thick enough to ever think you thought I was good enough for you."

Ron started to back away.

Hermione knew she had gone too far.

"Ron, I'm so…"

Ron held up his hand. "I don't need to hear anymore Hermione. You are right, you can do anything you set your mind to, I will just hold you down."

Ron turned and walked away.

Hermione wished more than anything she had followed him. Tried to let him know she did not mean anything she said. She turned and saw Harry down the hall, looking at her shocked, as he walked up to her slowly.

"Hermione," he said "Don't. I think you have said enough." He stepped aside. "I think for now its best if you just leave."

Hermione nodded and went to get her suitcase.

"Leave that", Harry said gently.

With that Hermione apparated to her Bedroom at her parents house.

Looking back Hermione knew that not only had she lost the only man she would ever love but her best friend as well. Harry made it clear, she was no longer welcome. Over the next few days Hermione began to isolate herself, not wanting to force her company on anyone. She moved back in with her parents. The only time Ron and Harry saw her was at the office. While at the office she avoided both Ron and Harry. When they did try and talk to her she would just walk away from them.

More than Hermione calling off the engagement, what Hermione had said to Ron completely broke him. He was just going through the motions at work. At night he would simply go to his room. Harry tried to get him to at least come down to eat. Ron refused.

Hermione received a letter from Ginny the next day. Ginny stated in her letter she could not believe the things she had said to Ron. She also stated she never believed Hermione could be that cruel and wanted to know what had happened to the Hermione she knew and came to love as a sister, and until that girl could be found she did not think she could help her.

After receiving Ginny's letter Hermione slipped deeper into her depression. After finishing work she would spend most nights in her room. Half those nights she spent the entire night in tears. When not in tears she slept. .

In addition to the trio having to deal the pain of what was said that night, it seemed Rita Skeeter at the Daily Prophet had somehow found out about what was going on. She wrote an article on how the Golden Trio was Broken. The story implied the reason for Ron and Hermione's engagement being called off was because Harry and Hermione were secretly having an affair.

This made matters worse for Hermione. Even though no one that knew her believed the Prophet, many others in the Wizarding world chose to believe the stories. The harsh looks and being called names ranging from tramp to whore were too much for her. She stopped going to many Wizarding spots as well. She no longer would report to the ministry of magic, preferring to work out of Scotland Yard where no one had read the Daily Prophet.

Hermione never felt more alone. She had not only lost her best friends, and the only man she had ever loved, she was also going to lose the Wizarding world, a world that she had come to love. She had decided once she finished investigating the attacks at Hogwarts she had no choice but to leave Wizarding world.

She had talked to both Professor McGonagall and Mr. Davies. With her N.E.W.T scores she would have no problem getting into a good law school. Davies also informed her that Scotland Yard would also help her with her school expenses. Hermione did not want to leave the Wizarding world but after the article had been printed in the Prophet she felt like she did the first couple of months at Hogwarts. Isolated and alone, had her parents not insisted she at least finish the fall term, she would have left Hogwarts and the Wizarding world behind in her first year at school.

Harry and Ron had been the last ones she would have believed would be her friends. Now, once again, she was alone. Only this time Hermione knew she would not be able to patch things up with Ron, too much had been said. Harry made it clear by asking her to leave he did not want her around as well.

On top of all of this, Hermione had to make a brilliant young woman relive one of the worse events of her life. Ron was right. She was a heartless bitch. Hopefully after a week or so the Wizarding world would no longer have to deal with the likes of Hermione Granger.

A soft knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. Her parents were worried about her. She did not tell them what had happened between her, Ron and Harry. She did tell them of her plans to leave the Wizarding world. They did not try to talk her out of it after she had told them her and Ron had broken up.

Hermione quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. She had been crying herself to sleep way too much over the last few days. She did not want her parents to see how sad she was to leave her fiancé, her friends and the only world she ever loved behind.

"Come in Mum." The only other person home was her mother so she knew who had knocked on her door.

When the door opened Hermione was shocked to see Molly Weasley standing at her door.

****

The last two weeks had been the longest that Molly could remember. Word of Ron and Hermione's fight spread through the Weasley family like wildfire. Many of the Weasley's at first wanted to know what Ron had done. They knew Hermione was a smart girl and she would never do anything like this if Ron had not provoked her. At first Molly was going to do nothing. Ron and Hermione had fights in the past, and always seemed to find a way back to each other.

This changed when she found Hermione's mother at her door. Annette Granger looked very worried. Molly invited her in.

"Annette," Molly greeted Mrs. Granger "What brings you here?"

Annette sighed.

"Our daughter"

Molly looked at Mrs. Granger, confused.

"Molly," Annette smiled as she spoke "Hermione is as much your daughter as she is mine. She has practically lived with since her second year at Hogwarts. You helped her deal with the after effects from that horrible year she had to spend. Now I need you to help her again. This is something I cannot help her with."

Molly offered Annette a chair.

"Molly, I am sure you know that she has called off her engagement with Ron."

"I know she has. Neither Harry nor Ron will tell me what happened. Ronnie is devastated."

"Hermione won't tell me what happened either." Annette looked very concerned as she continued. "Molly, Hermione is planning on leaving the Wizarding world completely"

This revelation shocked Molly. Hermione was and is still considered the brightest witches to come along in over one hundred years. She belonged in the Wizarding world.

"Why on earth would she do that?" Molly asked sitting down, shocked.

"She says she is no longer wanted in your world Molly. She did not get into any details but she said most witches and wizards believe someone named Rita Skeeter."

"Oh Dear" At that moment Molly could have killed Rita Skeeter.

"Do you have any idea what she means?" Annette asked.

Rather than explain, Molly handed her a copy of the daily profit from a week ago.

Annette took the paper and as she read the paper her face turned red with anger.

The Golden Trio is no more.

By Rita Skeeter

It has been learned by this reporter that the Golden Trio of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger is no more. Ron Weasley has called off his engagement with Hermione Granger, the plain Muggle girl who four years ago broke Harry Potter's heart by leaving him for Victor Krum during the Tri Wizard tournament. It seems Ms. Granger never lost her attraction for the boy who lived. This reporter has learned that Ms. Granger and Harry Potter have been having an affair over the last year, unknown to her fiancé Ron Weasley, and his sister Ginerva Weasley, Harry Potter's girlfriend.

It seems Mr. Weasley was not able to offer Ms. Granger the lifestyle she wanted. "Weasley, he is dirt poor", stated Benedict, a classmate of Ms. Grangers. Ms. Granger prefers the finer things Mr. Weasley could not provide her. She even had a fling with me before leaving Hogwarts to become an Auror." Ms. Granger can now add Ron Weasley, the youngest son of Arthur Weasley and one of the few Pureblood families in the Wizarding world to the lists of hearts she has broken. One must wonder if the Wizarding world might be better off without the likes of Ms. Granger.

Annette slammed the paper down after reading the article.

"How can she say something like that, after all Hermione sacrificed?"

"Let's just say that Hermione and this Skeeter woman have a history", Molly answered. "I cannot believe Hermione would let something like this bother her."

Annette told Molly about some of the cruel things that had been being said to Hermione. She also told Molly that Hermione did not know she knew. It seems Hermione had received several Howlers after Rita's article.

"You can see then why I need your help Molly. If Hermione felt she had some roots in the Wizarding world she might stay."

"I don't understand why Hermione would not talk to either me or Arthur."

Annette answered "She says she just cannot face you. That you will never forgive her for the things she said to Ron before she left."

"She should know better than that. I will talk to her."

**

The girl sitting before Molly looked nothing like the Hermione Granger she knew. The Hermione she knew was one of the strongest young women Molly had ever met. The girl before her looked as is she had been broken. What scared Molly the most is the girl before her looked as if she had just given up.

Hermione's eyes widened in a combination of shock and fear to see her, her voice sounded both sad and concerned. "Mrs. Weasley, has something happened to Ron?"