A Waltz in Darkness

Chapter Three

Hermione's POV

It was official; I have completely gone mental. I was asked to interrogate Malfoy…not invite him along in my search for the artifact. Perhaps it would be best to leave this part out of my report to the ministry. Such a thing would be frowned upon to my standards, my reports left no detail undocumented but this…this was the sort of detail even I felt some apprehension towards. However it was rather preposterous to think Malfoy could be behind such a clever act of robbery. He may have ties to some less than unsavory characters but even I could tell something had changed in him even before Voldemort was defeated. We all had changed, some people just refused to allow those changes to be seen let alone accept them.

My own changes had taken over my life; the debate was still out there whether or not I allowed them to do so or not. I tried not to think about it, instead I delved into work, studies…anything to occupy every second of my life. I would find anything in the world to distract me from the reality of my ruined life. There was only one moment when I was forced to face these changes within myself and my life…and that was breakfast at the Weasley's.

"How goes the search Hermione? I'm sure you are hot on the trail!" Arthur said while folding his newspaper to face me. His expression filled with excitement. Always looking for a good puzzle to solve that man. He had even asked to assist me in the search for this book, but I graciously declined. His muggle expertise would do nothing to help in my search or containment of such a book. It was a book that no eyes should find; a spirit resides within its very pages. A spirit that could prove to have given Voldemort a feeling of inadequacy. This vengeful spirit poured his very soul into a muggle classic known as Frankenstein. An odd sense of irony that a monster of the wizarding world's past would decide to hide within a story of a monster itself. Not much was known about this artifact of sorts, but what I was told is that it could become a threat we simply would not be ready for at this time.

"No leads as of yet Mr. Weasley, but I have not given up hope as of yet. The book will be found I'm certain of it."

"I am certain of it too; the cleverest witch is on the case. There's nothing you can't do my dear. Now please, stop calling me Mr. Weasley; you're family after all isn't that right Molly." I cringed at his words before sinking lower into my seat. I tried to avoid shifting my gaze to the young man next to me but I could feel the intensity of his gaze upon me as well as the gaze of the aging woman gliding her fork across the wearing polished plate of bacon and eggs.

Ron and I were so in love once, there was a time I thought I simply could not live without him but it would seem that the fairy tale was not meant to last. We had barely spoken in weeks, and when we did…it was only to engage in a shouting match that would always end with me in tears and him driving his fist into our bedroom wall.

Arthur was a smart man, but he refused to believe his son and I were not to be married once winter gave way to spring. Molly however, knew the moment I moved into the house that something wasn't right. She was kind and understanding in the beginning, providing me comfort and a shoulder to cry on…but now the way she looks at me was enough to make me hate the person I had become. How could such a sweet, endearing woman look at me as if I were nothing more than a pile of rubbish she should have thrown out long ago? I was a stranger in her home now, an unwelcomed guest that she did not yet have the courage to ask to leave. It wasn't hope that kept her from forcing me from her home…it was Ron.

I was grateful that he still cared enough about me to provide me with a roof over my head but even that was becoming harder for him to do. I could see it in his eyes every time I happened to lock eyes with him. I was walking on eggshells in this once warm and cozy home; I was an outcast to the very family that took me in as one of their own so many years ago. I felt sick at the thought.

I hated that I allowed my analytical mind into our simple relationship. But that was exactly what it was…simple. Simple was far from exciting and a part of me could not settle for anything less than exciting. I was selfish, I realize that life would never resemble the adventures I experienced alongside Harry and yet, I still craved it. I could not shake the feeling that there was more to life than this. Surely there was some sort of adventure, whether in travels or simply the stir within my heart, there had to be something else out there. I did not want to become…normal. I did not want routines and I did not want a life so predictable…that nothing I did not expect would happen for the rest of my life. It was wrong of me to think Ron would be anything other than who he truly was: a good, predictable man.

"I need some air." Ron muttered under his breath before shoving his chair back, the wooden legs of the chair digging deep into the floor creating a sound loud enough to make Molly spill some of the tea she was pouring for her husband.

"Excuse me." I whispered before following Ron's footsteps outside. I did not have the slightest idea what I would say…honestly there was nothing I could say to him to make any of this any better but still, I followed close behind the slammed door he purposefully placed in between us.

I opened the door and gently closed it only to find Ron pacing the golden hued dried grass still damp from a misting of chilled rain.

"Ron I-" I started but he instantly stopped in his tracks and shot me a hateful glare.

"Don't. Just…don't" He spat. His pale features were flushed with anger he was having a hard time controlling at times.

"I can't do this anymore Hermione." He strained through his clenched teeth.

"And you think I can?" I exclaimed.

"You may be fine with remaining here in the mess that you created but I can't!"

"We both created this mess!" I was trying desperately not to allow my tears to fall as his heavy steps led him inches before me.

"No Hermione…you did. You ruined everything…I have given you everything I have…but you are the one who decided it wasn't enough! I'm sorry I'm not brilliant or…or rich or any of that."

"Don't you dare accuse me of being shallow! You know that isn't the problem!" I interrupted. I felt the burn of tears trailing down my cheeks.

"Then what is?"

"I'm different okay…I'm not the same person I was at Hogwarts! Everyone understands where I'm coming from…hell even Malfoy understands where I'm coming from! You're the only one who doesn't seem to understand people change!" Before I could continue I realized I just revealed a secret that I instantly knew would push Ron over the edge. I cursed myself inside…how could I have been so foolish to let that slip?

"Malfoy? You're talking to Malfoy now? Who the hell are you Hermione when you talk to our enemies instead of talking to the man that loves you?" His response caught me off guard. He had a point, talking to Malfoy wasn't something I ever thought would ever happen. Not then, not now, not ever. Before I could explain myself, find some way to put an end to this argument I watched Ron's angered expression fade into something far worse…nothing. His eyes revealed no emotion whatsoever; it was as if he had finally given up on the argument, and me.

I could sense what was about to happen, although it appeared like an answered prayer in the days leading up to this, as I was facing it now I found myself scared. It was strange to become comfortable with being in an unhappy relationship as long as it meant you did not have the face the days alone. I had felt alone…but I've never actually experienced being alone. The thought was overwhelming; I felt my legs giving way to the weight of the situation as I focused on the words now spilling from his lips.

"Whatever this is…whatever you call it is over. I want you to leave." There it was. The words I never thought I would hear from him finally reared itself for the entire world to hear. It was over, we were over. I wanted to beg for forgiveness, perhaps even try to work things out, anything I could do to keep from feeling the cold grip of being left completely and utterly alone. Before I could attempt to gather the pieces of our shattered relationship Ron was gone.

I crumbled to my knees. Tears began falling like rain from my eyes as I screamed out his name. There was a time he would have come running to my side, no matter the circumstances but he wasn't ever coming back to my side again. All that was left was me and the painful silence of the world around me.

Suddenly the sound of the screen door creaking open reached my ears, an instant swelling of excitement lifted my spirits and I turned towards the sound.

"Here are your things, I wish you the best of luck my dear." Molly said while placing my packed suitcases upon the step. She then closed the door with what I could only assume to be a great feeling of relief. She must have known this was coming, had my bags packed the moment I left the table.

I never thought I had much pride about me, I would gladly sacrifice all manner of appearances if the situation called for it but somehow I knew begging would do me no good here. Molly would not allow me to step foot in her home again, I was bad energy as she called it. Ron was a stubborn creature, when he was done…there was no looking back. My only hope would have been Arthur; in his ignorance of the matters at hand he would have gladly opened the door for me if I just asked. But Molly was probably explaining to him the evil of my ways by this point, and his opinion towards me was shifting with every negative word his wife had to say to him. It was certainly a battleground here and I was defeated in every sense of the word.

I refused to allow myself to cry any more, the throbbing pain within my scull was enough to force me onto the wet grass below but I conjured what little strength I had within me and I grabbed my suitcases, so tightly nails began to dig into the palms of my hands.

"You're alright Hermione. You can do this. You can finally stay in that cozy bed and breakfast that just opened up." I muttered but even I could not convince myself that this situation could be turned into something positive. I was far from alright and I couldn't do anything…not on my own. All my strength was a result of having the support of others to fall back on. I always had help, every day of my life I had someone who loved me there to pick me up if I found myself falling down. But in this moment, there was no one there. Harry and Ginny had their own lives now, they cared little to indulge in the chaos that had become of Ron and I's life. They were living a blissful dream of normalcy, something they both desired greatly.

I allowed my steps to travel down the winding road leading away from the smoke billowing from the newly lit fire from the Weasley's chimney. Molly would be fixing hot cocoa to ease the mind of her baby boy. The warmth of that sweet beverage was something I found myself missing instantly but there would be no warmth for me, not for awhile at least. I just had the long road ahead, my suitcases in hand and the thought that I may have made the biggest mistake of my life.

A/N: I am so excited to see so many followers joining the story! Thank you so much for taking interest in it, I hope everyone enjoyed this update and I look forward to hearing your reviews! My writer's block is GONE yay! I am really getting excited about this story, hope everyone else is too!

Marie Clair Roemajji Celts: Hello my friend, what did you think of this update, it's coming together don't you think? I am really starting to enjoy this now that I've gotten past a little writers block! I really hope you are enjoying this story; I'm glad to hear you are liking your character and her personality…that is a huge relief to hear and makes me excited! If you have any other ideas or changes before I get too far into the story please feel free to PM them to me and I'll get those ideas in there!

I'm super excited about our story, I think it's coming along great! I hope you are well, I'm about to PM you with a more detailed message to you my dear friend, I have missed you! Thanks for reviewing on our story! It's amazing to have done this creative adventure with you!

PuffyUnicorn: Hello there, thank you for reviewing and you are so right, writer's block is an awful thing but hearing you say your enjoying following along makes me smile! I will of course see this story through to the end, glad to have you along! Thanks!

Dork Dog: Ah my friend you have found my other story! Hooray! Thank you as always for your support and friendship; it just wouldn't be the same without you! Glad you're enjoying the story! Sounds like we are a lot alike I ship Dramione more than just about any other character relationships in the fantasy world. They are totally meant to be together, Draco hides his feelings with his arrogance and rude comments but you know he secretly just wishes he could be with her. *sigh* I could go on and on, I love those two! But anyway, I hope I do them justice in my story, I know you'll let me know if I do! Thank you my friend, you are the best!