Dearest,

We need to talk. I don't want you to think that this is your fault. As trite as this may sound, this is not about you. This is about me. Over the years that we have been married, I have changed. We have changed. We've grown apart, and I know that you know this is true. We've had our ups and downs as any normal married couple has, but ours only served to leave us growing in opposite directions. I've struggled with this decision for a very long time now and I have to tell you the truth. While I will always love you, I have not been in love with you for a very long time. I thought that I could live content at your side without that passion, but I was wrong. Please don't blame yourself for this, the blame rests with me. I never wanted to hurt you, although I fear this is what I've done. I never wanted to hurt anybody.

Please don't be afraid to love again. Don't let my choices and decisions affect your ability to open yourself up to new possibilities. I want you to be happy, and you deserve somebody who can love you strong and true. I wish that I could still be that woman, but I know in my heart I will only bring you more heartache over time. It's best to do this now, while the children are away at school. When it comes closer to the Christmas holidays, we'll hash out the details on when they will stay with me, and when they will stay with you. I'll obviously need time to set up residence. We needn't burden them with the details until it's time for them to return.

I've already removed my clothing and books from the house. I'll send you an address when I secure one where you may send the rest of my belongings. I want this to be a clean a break as possible, for both of us. I know you won't see it this way, but this is the best thing I could do for both of us. We'll both be happier people when we aren't struggling to maintain a relationship that ended many years ago. I do want you to be happy Ronald. I hope in time you'll forgive me. I know it won't be soon, or even in the near future, but someday. Someday you'll see this was the right decision. I'm only sorry that it took me so long to admit it to myself, and to you.

I know this won't make sense to you right now, but I do love you. I'm doing this because I love you, and I can't bear to hurt you anymore.

Hermione

With a sigh, she signed her name with a flourish, and folded the paper tightly. She was being a coward. She knew she was being a coward, but she just couldn't face him. She couldn't face his anger, or the horrible scene that was going to occur when he knew what she was doing. If she saw him face to face she would feel obligated to tell him that she had found somebody else. And eventually, who that somebody else was. He might convince her to stay anyway, and that would slowly kill them both as she knew in her heart that he was never going to forgive her for this, but it was time she stopped lying to herself, and to everyone around her. His heart would mend eventually, but only if she walked away now. Pouring wax over the edges of the paper, she carefully sealed it and left it on the kitchen table.

She already had her bags packed up. There wasn't much for her to take really, just her clothes, a few books that were special to her. She didn't want anything else from her life with Ron. Some pictures of her children surely, but what did she need with pots and pans? With furniture? She needed a clean break, and dragging remnants of her old life with her would surely jinx it. Taking one last look around the sweet little house that had been her home for the last twenty years, she smiled to herself, shrunk her suitcases into her purse and walked out of her home for the last time.

She apparated to a quiet alley down the street from the apartment that had been the scene of her trysts with Draco, she could barely contain her smile. She was finally doing it. She was finally freeing herself to be with him full time. Hurrying down the street, she ducked into the building and bustled up the stairs. When she entered the apartment, she found Draco already there.

The first thing he noticed was the excited flush in her cheeks, her eyes bright and gleaming. She was excited about something and he smiled at her, hoping that meant she was agreeing to stay the evening with him. He wanted nothing more than to wake up to her in the morning. Just once. It was hard enough sharing her with her family, but to have been robbed of every chance to hold her through the night, that stung the most.

"I take it you got my letter?" He asked, crossing the room and wrapping his arms around her, drawing her into his chest and inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.

"I did," she responded excitedly. "And I thought about what you've said. You're right. We deserve more than a few stolen moments."

"So you'll stay the night with me?" he beamed down at her, brushing his lips against her hair, her temple, her ear.

"I'll stay forever with you if you'll have me," she whispered back, turning her face upwards to watch his expression. "I ended it. It's over with Ronald."

Several emotions washed over his face. Disbelief, shock, and finally joy. This was more than he had dared let himself hope. A year and a half they had been sneaking around. A year and a half he'd had to share her with her husband. To know that he had her all to himself now, that he would never have to wake up a morning without her again sent his mind in a tizzy. He knew how hard a decision that was for her. He never pressured her, terrified that she would choose her family and he would lose her. But she had chosen him. She loved him enough to cast everything away to be with him. It was a heady feeling.

Slipping his hand under her chin, he pulled her face up to his and kissed her deeply, conveying the joy he felt, claiming her for himself. She returned his kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck and pulling him even closer to herself.

"I'll have you Hermione, and I'll never let you go. You are mine." He whispered against her lips, and pulling her off her feet as he spun jubilantly around in a circle. "You are mine."