If you think that I'm the sort of girl who would give up on her marriage after a single drunken escapade then you are sorely mistaken. This was merely the straw that snapped the camels' spine.

This isn't the first time either; I've packed my bags more times than I could count. Gotten down the road twice and once, after Harry decided to erect a statue of himself on the front lawn, spent a night at my parents house.

But I hadn't ever gotten truly away. Completely contrary to my usual stubborn disposition, I just couldn't leave Harry. I had James to think about now, not just my own happiness, and for all Harry's faults he was a good father to the boy. He took him out for romps over the fields near the burrow and had been given the 'bestest daddy in the world' title after buying him a toy broom stick that caused his little face to light up like a bonfire.

However this time my mind was set. I opened my eyes and listened for a moment, Harrys raucous snores from beside me gently shook the bed frame and the rise and fall of his plump chest reassured me that he was asleep.

I slipped out of bed and padded over to the cupboard to fetch my dressing gown. I caught a glimpse of my face in the mirror and came to a halt. Two large and tired looking brown eyes looked determinedly back at me from the midst of a mane of wild red hair.

I bit my lip; the mirror showed me a face that was so tired. I had lost so much of my former vigour. When had my skin turned so grey?

But my sex appeal wasn't important. I focused on my eyes.

Did I look different? Did I look determined, decisive, as if I meant business?

Well, no, probably not. But that was not the important thing, this time I meant it. This time I was certain, this time I was off.

I crept around the bedroom pulling on leggings and a baggy old jumper, being careful not to wake my snoring husband. Then I stole from the room, being sure to shut the door quietly behind me.

"Mu-mmy! Mu-mmy! Muuu-mmmy!"

The steady chant that had originally woken me was getting louder now, and as I stumbled my way across the landing to the adjacent door I felt like a quidditch player running out from the tunnel to the roar of hundreds of fans.

"Muu-MMMYYYY" It crescendoed as I opened the door.

"Ja-mie!" I responded enthusiastically as I reached his bed and pulled him into a hug. He smelled divine, snuggling into my shoulder. After a few moments I dropped him back in his bed and pulled some clean clothes out of his drawer.

James's big green eyes stared at me in amazement. Pyjamas were usually perfectly acceptable at the breakfast table.

"Sorry, darling," I muttered, pulling his legs into trousers and raising him to his feet. "Got to get out of here this morning. Got to get a wiggle on eh?"

He stared at me as if I had gone mad. Well, James my boy, I thought seriously, I probably have.

We hurried downstairs and James watched from his bean bag as I whizzed around the kitchen with my wand at the ready, flicking a hand at the dishes, another at the kettle and bending down to light the oven for James's toast.

We chatted happily about nothing as James munched away at his toast.

I badly wanted to go and break the news to Luna and I was keen to leave before Harry had a chance to wake up and intercept me. I didn't particularly want him to come down and read the marital meltdown message I was sure was written all over my face.

But no such luck. Ten minutes later, just as I was clearing the last of James's toast from his plate the doorway was filled with blue pinstriped pyjamas.

Harry yawned, stretched, and scratched his head like a great bear.

"Oh, blimey. I feel a bit liverish this morning." He patted his stomach tentatively. This was Harrys usual euphemism for a massive hangover. He plodded over to give me a sloppy kiss on the cheek then lowered himself into his seat at the kitchen table, waiting to be served. I clenched my teeth and set about making tea.

"You're dressed early." He remarked.

"Am I?" I said guiltily. "Oh well, I just thought, since it's such a lovely morning, I'd take James for a walk in the park." I surreptitiously pointed my wand at the blinds to hide the moody gray sky from view.

Harry snorted incredulously and unfolded his news paper. The idea of exercise had never appealed to Harry unless a broom was involved, and even if it was he had barely been near a broom since the end of the war. The pot belly spilling from the bottom of his pyjama top was a clear indication of this.

I finished stirring his tea and set it in front of him.

"Nasty feeling I'm in disgrace."He muttered between swigs, "Seem to remember I was a bit out of order last night."

"No more than usual." I said lightly.

"Do telly Vicky that I'm sorry won't you? Spastic colon." For a moment I thought he was insulting Victoire but then he went on, "Mediwizard says it's quite common among wizards of my age and with my levels of stress."

Stress? I boggled into the washing up.

"Says it's all linked up with my war wounds." He pushed his hair absentmindedly of his forehead revealing his lightning scar. A well practised move, usually reserved for crowds of admirers and journalists.

"Ah, right." Personally I couldn't see what a scar and a few cuts and bruises had to do with him peeing all over the coat cupboard, but I let it pass. "You should probably go and get that looked at, do you remember I booked you an appointment with that therapist, someone Dean recommended on Harley Street. Did you ever go?"

"Certainly not," he growled. "I don't want some sappy specialist telling me I have some made up personality disorder then charging me an arm and a leg."

"Actually, I think she specialised in psychosexual studies. Childhood troubles, that sort of thing."

"Merlin's beard!" Harry spat his tea across the table. "The lengths some woman will go to get their hands on a fellow."

"Whatever do you mean Harry?"

He pulled a face.

"All these psychiatrist types are simply trying to get inside your head and seduce you, don't get sucked in by it Old thing, it's just a load of hogwash."

I smothered a chuckle.

"Harry, do you really think a woman would spend five or so years studying for her degree, simply so she may one day get the chance to seduce a married man with abusive parents?"

"Don't joke Ginny," he growled, " Believe me there are some desperate woman out there."

I bit the inside of my cheek and turned away under the pretence of drying my hands so I could smirk without Harry seeing.

"Oh, I don't doubt it Harry." I stated, turning back to face him. "You're right, it's no joke. It's not safe for a man like you to walk the streets along today with all these predatory woman about. I'm amazed you even venture out of the house without your cloak."

Harry gave me a quick suspicious look.

"What's up with you today? You're not your usual self. You're very... puckish."

"Am I?" I dropped my eyes. "Sorry"

I instantly stopped the puckishness and reverted to doormat mode, hiding my smirking face in the sink and set a pan to be scrubbed viciously. I mustn't get too overconfident or he would notice that something was amiss. The last thing I wanted was for Harry to suspect anything. This situation definitely called for a quick clean break.

Luckily James caused a diversion.

"Gin, Gin look he's dribbling." Harry said, disgusted.

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"It's just a bit of milk Harry." I muttered, moving forwards with a cloth and whipping the line of spittle from the corner of James' mouth. "You could try to help me, you know."

But Harry had already lost interest. He had picked up the prophet and was leafing contentedly through to find the crossword section.

For a few minutes I continued my jobs around the house and started whipping down the counters when Harry cleared his throat.

"I say Gin, do you think you are going to Lavenders tomorrow morning for bridge?"

"No Harry, I have James tomorrow, nursery is off this week remember?"

"Can't you take him with you?"

I turned around and raised an eyebrow.

"Why on earth would I take him to Bridge Harry? What's he going to do, sit and count the rubbers?"

He frowned.

"Aren't rubbers condoms or something? Why would be using condoms in a game of cards Old thing? Isn't that a bit saucy." He shook his head and chuckled.

I bridled.

"No Harry. It's a bridge term."

He snorted with derision.

"Can't you get a nanny like the rest of the mums."

I clenched my teeth and gripped the edge of the counter to contain my anger. This was an age old bone of contention between Harry and me. He saw no fault in dumping the kids with some random woman and gallivanting off on quidditch weekends or house parties. I, on the other hand, believed strongly in bringing up my own child. I cringed at the thought of running off out the door and leaving James with a complete stranger every morning. It was a matter of pride.

And after all, we could never afford a nanny on our budget. Harry had no real job to speak of and we still lived off his parents account in Gringotts.

"Fine then." He announced haughtily. "But don't expect invitations to ministry balls to just fall into your lap Gin. You have to be prepared to put in a bit of groundwork first."

Ah, so that's what this is about. The Christmas Ministry ball in the Highlands. Well yes because it had been such fun last year hadn't it.

We had arrived in the evening to the ancient old Scottish castle, situated just by a lake. The place had been an absolute shambles with decorators firing hexes at the catering staff and half a dozen house elves taking cover beneath the dining table.

It turned out that the company that did the decorating were huge Tornadoes fans while the catering staff sat firmly behind the Windborne Wasps. Very soon arguments were struck up about a match the previous week, the decorators strongly bemoaning the referee and the catering staff retaliating with crude chants. Before long the hexes were flying and the grand hall was chaotic.

Eventually the organisers managed to calm things down but the catering staff promptly resigned and left the castle on the grounds that they would not serve food to Tornado scum.

The organisers were left high and dry with no food and the ball starting the very next day.

"Whatever shall we do?" They cried. "We could never get another chef from the agency on this short notice!"

"Don't be ridiculous." I had said, striding forwards and pulling on an apron. "We shall have to do it ourselves."

"Bravo Ginny!" They had chorused, "What a team player, I can't boil and egg myself."

And with that they had all trailed out of the door. Leaving me alone in the huge kitchen surrounded by fifty or so lobsters that needed preparing for the next morning and not a single offer of help from anyone.

"I was very proud of you, you know Gin." Harry said, pulling me back to the present.

"Yes, I know you were Harry." I said through clenched teeth. Remembering his glowing face as he trundled off with the rest of them to the parlour in his over-the-top robes and crooked glasses.

He settled happily back into his chair and picked up the paper again.

"Just remember," He said solemnly. "We deserve the best Gin."

Taking this as my cue to leave I scooped James into my arms and carried him to the back door. I was just wrestling him into his jacket when Harry looked up yet again.

"Where are you going this early?" He asked, bemused. Harry could not understand anyone that was out and about before ten am.

"We were just heading off to the park for a bit of a stroll." I said, pulling my own jacket around my shoulders.

"And then?" He enquired.

I paused, my mind racing for an excuse.

"On to Luna's house. Thought we would visit them to see how her new art display is going."

He grunted, convinced, and went back to his paper. Harry approved of Luna, actually she was the only one of my friends he did approve of, and he was more than happy for me to trundle over there with James in tow. In actual fact I was heading out to see Hermione. But Harry didn't need to know, they hadn't spoken in years.

"Right, we're off. See you after play."

I paused. See you after play? Blimey I was even starting to talk like him now. I well and truly needed to get as far away from this marriage as I possibly could.

Shaking my head I took James hand and led him out the door and into the fresh spring morning.