Hi everyone, here with Chapter 5, hope you all enjoy it.

Sirius xoxo

Previously:

She walked out to the lounge room and saw that Harry was gone. He must have gone to bed.

She walked down the hall to her room and stopped at her door, she looked at the next room and then went to knock on the door. She tapped lightly but heard no response. The door slipped open and she carefully stepped in. He wasn't there. Hermione decided to try and get some sleep.

On with Chapter 5:

She turned around to walk back to her room and he was standing right behind her. She gasped and jumped.

"Oh Harry, I just wanted to say goodnight but you weren't there."

His closeness reminded her of the kiss in the kitchen. She tried to step aside so he could walk in but in hindsight it was probably a bad move. It put her back up against the door jam and Harry, again, had her pinned between himself and a hard place.

"You wanted to say goodnight, what for the last time?" Harry's voice was hard and bitter. Her worry that there was going to be a repeat of the kiss earlier quickly evaporated.

"Harry, look I am sorry, I wanted to tell you but..."

"What you couldn't find time in your busy schedule, Jesus Hermione, we live together?" Hermione dropped her eyes and felt guilty.

"Sorry, Harry, it was wrong of me but it's time I moved on anyway." Hermione stepped out of his way and walked down towards her room.

"That's right Hermione, walk away like the last 17 years means nothing to you?"

Hermione stopped in her tracks. She turned around slowly and walked back to face him.

"How dare you Harry, how dare you? You have the hide to stand there and say that to me, ME!" Hermione was shoving her finger into his chest while she spoke.

"I was the only one who stuck by you through everything. I was there, I was the only one Harry, you bastard, how could you say that to me." The tears were falling down her cheek again and she continued on.

"I am not walking away from 17 years, I am moving on so I can live some sort of life Harry, instead of being here in the shadows, being nothing more than Harry Potter's friend. Just sitting by waiting for you to get married and leave anyway. Well that's it I am going to move and start my life again." She turned and stomped away.

Harry stood there and watched her walk away. He couldn't believe it, he was losing her and there was nothing he could do about it.

Hermione's sleep was restless and she woke feeling worse than the day before. She packed her last bags and shrunk them down and placed them in her pocket. She walked out into the kitchen and she hoped more than anything that Harry would be there. She just wanted one more breakfast with him. Just one more.

He wasn't.

Hermione drank her tea and left her toast untouched. She couldn't stomach anything at this moment anyway. She laid her head down on the bench and had another good cry. She sobbed for her loss, she sobbed for her nerves at starting again with out Harry. But mostly she sobbed for Harry. She knew nothing would be the same anymore and it was time to say goodbye.

She walked in to the lounge room and took a couple of her favourite photos and anything else that belonged to her. She rechecked her bedroom and found that she had carefully removed all trace of herself and then she left.

All the gang and her parents were at the airport to say goodbye, well everyone except for Harry.

There were lots of tears and hugs but she also knew that she was doing the right thing. She promised to write and call, her parents anyway, and they all promised the same. She kept looking over at the entrance door but when the final call came for her flight, she knew it was time to go.

With more tears and hugs, then she was gone.

********************

Twelve months had flown by and Hermione could not believe it had been one year since she had left London. She found a lovely flat in Canada and it was overlooking a river. She loved staying home just looking out over her balcony, it was lonely but peaceful at the same time. Work was hectic but extremely rewarding. She had the breakthrough she needed in her career and her name was on the lips of the most influential people. She had journals published and it had gotten to the stage where the heads of departments consulted with her before they used any new spells or tried any new healing spells. She ate dinner with the Nettle's once a week and had become so close to them that she was the Godmother of their second child, Anastasia.

Hermione had made some lovely friends as well and her staff were great, very respectful and hard working. It probably made it easier that she was a great boss. It was Friday and she was looking forward to her first weekend off in ages. Hermione went home to find she had an owl waiting for her, she looked at the writing and recognised Ron's handwriting instantly.

She tore it open and sat down to read her letter.

Dearest Mione,

I am writing to let you know that I am finally going to make an honest woman out of Caroline. Yep, I asked her to marry me and she accepted. We are having the wedding on the 20th August and I really, REALLY want you here please. We haven't seen you for a year so please, please come. It won't be the same without you here.

Love always and always, Ron

Hermione couldn't help the huge smile that graced her face. She was so happy for Ron and Caroline, how exciting, a wedding. Unfortunately thinking of Ron also brought up thoughts of another part of the trio that she didn't want to think about. It had taken months for her to actually fall asleep without tears over Harry Potter and many times she almost gave up and went back to London to see him. She wrote to him but he never returned her letters so she slowly and painfully tried to move on.

Either way this was Ron's big day and she owed it to him to be there for him. She realised yet again, how much she missed them all.

When she left June last year, she had planned on coming back for Christmas but London was completely snowed in and there was no way of anyone getting in or out and since she only had limited time available, she had to give it a miss.

Her parents had surprised her with visits over the past year, which was fantastic. Ron and Ginny had written constantly and since the business was really picking up, time didn't allow them to take time off either, so an entire year had passed since she had seen them. She continued to write to Harry a couple of times but he never responded, so she stopped. She got all the details from Ron anyway. Apparently he was still with Deanna and it was probably serious. Hermione dealt with that when she had first received that letter so it was time, again, to put it all behind her and organise time off for Ron's wedding.

She wrote back to Ron and Caroline straight away and told them how happy she was for them both. She also said she would be there whether she had to fly on a broomstick to get there. She knew Ron would get a laugh from that.

Over the weekend Hermione received another letter, from Caroline only this time and Hermione's mouth fell when she asked her to be her matron of honour. Hermione could not believe it, she decided she would floo her to talk to her in person.

The two girls talked for a while and Hermione was so flattered that Caroline wanted her there she said yes immediately. Caroline was screaming happily and they decided on the dates that would be good for Hermione to arrive so she could be fitted for her dress and also help out with other small details. It worked out that if Hermione took the whole four weeks she was entitled too, it would give her plenty of time to do all the wedding duties and also catch up with family and friends.

It was all set, Hermione was booked to leave Canada on the 19th July and everything at work had run smoothly. Brian's little son Marcus was sad his aunty Hermione would be gone for so long, but she told him she would bring him and Anastasia back a present so he was happy.

Hermione landed in London Airport and the butterfly's stomping around in her stomach were starting make her feel sick. She hesitantly stepped out into the waiting area to see a flash of red hair charging for her. She was bowled over by this huge man in seconds and if she hadn't of grabbed him she would have fallen over.

"Mione, never ever stay away that long again, I missed you so much." Ron was sobbing and Hermione couldn't help the tears falling down her face too.

"I'm sorry Ron, it won't happen again, I have missed you guys so much." They hugged as they walked out to his car and he chatted non-stop all the way back to the Burrow. Hermione was staying there as Caroline and Ron's place was a bit small. She didn't even dare ask Harry if she could stay in her old room, which wasn't hard since she hadn't spoken to him since she left.

Hermione had all the details for the wedding by the time they arrived. He told her that Caroline had wanted to ask her to be the matron of honour first but he convinced her to wait till they knew if she could make it for the wedding.

"Ron, I wasn't going to miss it anyway."

"I know Mione, but I didn't want you to feel guilty if you couldn't make it, or when you found out …..." Ron mumbled the last part and Hermione looked at him suspiciously.

"Ronald Weasley, what aren't you telling me?" Hermione wasn't angry, she just knew he was up to something.

"Ummm, when you found out who your partner was." Ron was turning red and Hermione knew instantly it had to be Harry, I mean, who else would it be.

"Ron, I'm fine being Harry's partner OK, it's your day and I want it to be special for you two." Ron had pulled up and got out of the car. Hermione could see he was welling up and she waited for him to approach her.

"Mione, I love you so much, you really are the best friend in the world." Ron hugged her fiercely.

"Hey Ron, come on, I want you to have a great day and I would never do anything to hurt you."

Ron pulled back but did not let her go, "Mione how come we never made it as a couple?"

Hermione smiled and kissed his cheek, "Because we are better as best friends than lovers..." Ron nodded and hugged her again.

"..plus I think Caroline is the best thing that ever happened to you Ronald Weasley, she brings out the best in you." Ron nodded and they turned to walk inside. The two friends did not notice the other part of the trio watching from upstairs.

Mrs Weasley was fussing, Ginny was chatting non-stop, Caroline was rummaging through huge wedding books, Ron was chatting to Neville and Hermione had never felt so happy in the past year as she did right now. She hadn't realised how much she missed this type of noise.

She heard someone walk down the stairs and knew who it was before she looked. She glanced at Ron and saw the same worried expression on Caroline's face. This was for them two and she loved them both very much. So she turned around and plastered a huge smile on her face and stood up to approach Harry. His demeanour was stiff and weary but she ignored it.

"Harry, how have you been?, I missed you." Hermione walked up to him and hugged him. Harry didn't respond and didn't reciprocate the hug but she reminded herself it was for Ron.

"When did you arrive?" Harry's voice, yet again, showed his annoyance.

"Not long ago, we are just going over the finer details of the wedding. How exciting our little Ronnikens is getting married."

Hermione turned around and saw how happy Ron and Caroline were and knew it was worth it. Ron made a smart comment about being older than Harry but everyone laughed and sat back down to continue their discussions. The only spare seat was next to Hermione of course, and Harry hesitated but then sat down.

It was so bloody hard sitting next to him and not being able to touch him or even being on speaking terms with him. He was so stiff and uncomfortable and Hermione felt it and also knew it was because of her.

Caroline and Hermione chatted for ages about the dress designs and all the minor details when Harry asked a loaded question.

"Is she in the bridal party too?" Harry growled.