Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing.

AN: Thank you for the reviews! Before you start reading this chapter, I'm letting you know that I tweaked some of what was said in the books around a bit. Also Ron lovers beware! He is a very bad guy in this story. Warning for some intense violence in this chapter.

Hermione Pov:

I take one last look at myself in the mirror and give an approving nod. My hair, no longer bushy, falls in effortless waves to the middle of my back and I've got on just enough make up to highlight my natural features. Going for a casual look, I've chosen a coral colored tank top, blue jean shorts, and a pair of gold sandals. September is only two days away, but this heat wave doesn't look like it'll be letting up anytime soon.

I feel considerably underdressed with my beachy looking attire since I've grown so accustomed to dressing in all of the latest fashion. Not many people know this but I've always been interested in style. I just never saw the point in showing it back at Hogwarts because we always had to be in uniforms and robes anyway. Now I put an effort into my appearance and after spending the last four years in Paris, my love for fashion has only grown.

Today though, I've opted for a comfortable look because I'm heading to Diagon Alley to help George with the joke shop. When he found out I was coming back, he owled me wondering if I could be an extra set of hands because this was one of his busiest times of year. It's the Saturday before the train at King's Cross will be departing to take all the students back to Hogwarts, and he needs all the help he can get. I had agreed wholeheartedly and sent Harry and Ginny an owl changing our plans. Originally I was going to spend the night at their place upon my arrival back last night, but since I got in so late I decided to stay in my parent's old house and meet them at the shop today.

I lock up the house and head down the street to the nearest apparition point. Making sure no muggle are around, I disapparate on the spot and land in the Leaky Cauldron. Quickly heading out of the bar area, I come up to the brick wall serving as the barrier. I tap the bricks in the correct order and the wall begins to shift and move as Diagon Alley appears before my eyes. Oh how I've missed it!

A year and a half after the war, I went to Australia and tracked down my parents. Upon restoring their memories and explaining why I did what I had, they embraced me and took me back with open arms. It was a wonderful reunion, but short lived. A few weeks later, I received an owl from Kingsley saying I'd gotten the job I'd applied for in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. He also said that my request for an immediate out of country assignment had been approved and I would be port keyed to the French Ministry the following week. With me heading off to Paris, and their dentistry going so well, my parents saw no reason to return to England and continue their lives as Wendell and Monica Wilkens.

We still remain close and I make time to visit them a few times each year. The house in England was paid off and still in their name. I'm sure they'll return home one day.

My parents assumed I took the job I did because I wanted to travel and make a difference in other countries. While both of these assumptions are true, only Harry and Ginny know the other reason behind my decision to leave home. In the year and a half following the war, rather than moving on and putting the traumatic experience behind me, I became caught up in an entirely new nightmare; my ex-boyfriend Ronald Weasley.

I honestly don't know what I ever saw in that prick. I mean all we ever seemed to do in school was fight. He was insanely jealous and always made me feel terrible about myself.

Starting all the way back in first year, I still remember crying my eyes out after he called me a nightmare. I was honestly only trying to help him in class. And if I hadn't told him he was saying it wrong, he wouldn't have been able to Wingardium Leviosa that club away from the troll and one or possibly all three of us could have died.

Then there was the night of the Yule Ball in fourth year. When we first found out about it, I tried dropping subtle hints to get Ron to ask me. I'd begun to have feelings slightly more than friendship for him since the first time we went to Hogsmeade together in third year, and thought he might have returned them. When he showed no interest, I brushed my mixed feelings aside and readily accepted Viktor Krum'a invitation.

I spent hours getting ready for the ball, making sure I looked perfect. I didn't want to always be thought of as 'the know-it-all bookworm' or considered 'one of the guys' by everyone. I thought my efforts had paid off when I entered the Great Hall on Viktor's arm and all eyes turned to me. For the first time in my life, I felt absolutely beautiful.

But Ron killed that feeling mere hours later. I'd seen his sour look during the opening dance and felt his eyes boring holes into me the whole duration of the ball. When I tried confronting him to see what had him in such a foul mood, he snapped at me saying I was a traitor to the school, our house, and even to Harry. He wouldn't listen to my reasoning that the whole point of the Tri-Wizard Tournament was to promote unity, and coldly told me that Viktor only asked out easy girls and that's how everyone at the ball saw me. He further taunted me by saying I couldn't possibly be so stupid as to think Viktor was truly interested in me when he could get any girl he wanted. I cried myself to sleep that night feeling dirty and uglier than I'd ever felt in my entire life.

Even though my self esteem was practically destroyed after that, I pretended nothing happened in front of Harry and everyone else. He hadn't been there when Ron said those horrible things and I didn't want him to have to pick between us especially since he had enough on his plate that year. I was also terrified that if it came down to it, he'd pick Ron over me.

Ron never apologized, but after a while I began to think he might have been interested in me again. Looking back now I know he was toying with my emotions on purpose to get me to help him with homework and classes. He'd give me compliments and pretend to listen to me, and then ask to copy my work or try to talk me into just doing his assignment for him. Sometimes I did because I thought it would win him over, but then he kissed that slag Lavender Brown in sixth year. I was completely crushed and he didn't seem to care. That was one of the worst years for all of us, and I should have distanced myself from him then.

I always was quick to forgive though. It also didn't help that the next year was spent in close quarters with him in a tent while hunting horcruxes. He was difficult to be around and always brought about tension. Then he left, leaving us to complete the mission. Harry and I became a lot closer and formed a special bond. Not in a lovers way because he was too in love with Ginny and I just didn't see him in that way, but in a brother and sister type relationship. We'd been there with each other through thick and thin and I realized that Harry would never abandon me as I'd feared in fourth year. We were family.

When Ron returned however, I gave him another chance almost immediately, though Harry was a bit skeptical of him. We continued our hunt and finally ended up at Hogwarts for the final battle. When we were in the Chamber of Secrets and had just destroyed another horcrux, Ron suddenly grabbed me and kissed me. Though this had been what I wanted for so many years, it didn't feel like it was supposed to. I thought it was just because of the circumstances we were under when it happened.

Harry defeated Voldemort and all was well until we learned of Fred's death. It was devastating to the entire Weasley clan as well as Harry and I. I wanted to be there for Ron and accepted immediately when he asked me to move in with him later that month. We were finally giving our relationship a shot, but it didn't take long for things to go horribly wrong.

The fame going to his head was the first thing. He was the only one of the 'Golden Trio' that wanted to share more of the horrific war stories. But the stories he shared were significantly warped versions of what really happened. Ron twisted them around to make himself always come across as the hero and being the one to save Harry and I. he also conveniently 'left out' the part where he ditched us.

After a few weeks of living together, he became very controlling. He didn't like me going out much and told me he didn't want me working. We'd all received money for our contribution in the war, but without work, we'd only be able to live off it for a few months. Besides, we'd already spent some to purchase an apartment and bills had to be paid. When I tried telling him this, he said we were fine for now. I thought this had something to do with his grief for Fred, so I gave in without much fight.

Four months later the money was running low and I was beginning to get fed up with him. He was an absolute slob and left the apartment trashed. I cleaned because I couldn't stand the filth, but everyday he left behind a new mess. I confronted him about it and told him he needed to clean up after himself and we needed to get jobs. He said he'd get one but it was my job to clean house and have a meal prepared for him. We got into a huge row about his sexist comment and that was the first time he hit me.

He left that night and I tended to my bruised cheek. I couldn't believe he'd actually hit me. I contemplated what I would do, because I didn't want to stay with him. He came back the next day with flowers and an apology. He said he didn't mean to and that it was just him still grieving for Fred. He also told me that he'd gotten a job and was the new keeper for the Chudley Cannons. He begged me not to leave him and said he'd never hurt me again, and I stupidly believed him.

It wasn't long before he went back to the controlling slob he was before. He kept accusing me of having some kind of secret affair with Harry behind his back and said it was going on since we'd been alone together in the tent. Their relationship had never recovered after the war, and Ron's lies about the war stories infuriated Harry. They completely dissolved their friendship. Ron had been my first and only lover, having lost my virginity to him when we first moved in together, and I tried to tell him there was nothing going on between Harry and I. He didn't listen and said I was forbidden to see Harry ever again. I told him he couldn't decide who my friends were and he hit me again. Three times that night. There was no apology after that.

If other men looked at me when we were out or tried to talk to me, he blamed me for attracting the attention or the way I dressed. He demanded I wear baggy shirts or ugly skirts that reached my ankles and the floor when out in public and before long he almost never let me out of the apartment period. I complied because I was too scared to defy him.

He used his paycheck to party or wasted it completely on alcohol. The nights he came home drunk were the worst because he always accused me of something I hadn't done and would hit me, sometimes multiple times. I'd perfected a glamour charm to hide the bruises on the few times he let me out of the apartment. Harry sent numerous owls to me thinking I was ignoring him because of his fight with Ron. I responded in secret letting him know that I still loved him, but didn't let on about what was happening. Things were starting to go right for Harry, and I didn't want to burden him with my problems.

Once after Ron came home the night before in a drunken rage and pushed me around quite a bit, I owled Harry asking him to meet me in Diagon Alley. Ron was passed out on the bed, and wouldn't be up for at least a few more hours. I glamoured myself as usual, and met Harry at a tea shop.

He may not have known Ron was abusing me, but Harry definitely wasn't daft and knew something was wrong. He could tell I wasn't happy and set me straight. "You've got to leave him 'Mione" he'd said. "Keeping you locked in that apartment isn't healthy. And people notice that you're not around! I can't tell you how many times I've been asked about you. He's not the same person he was when we were kids. You have to move on." I knew he was right. I couldn't let Ron control me for the rest of my life. I didn't know how I was going to do it, but I told Harry I would leave him.

A few days after our talk, I was able to talk Ron into letting me out by saying I needed to go grocery shopping. Truthfully I went out to go look at a few apartments. I wasn't having much luck so I stepped into a small tea shop to grab a drink. Before I got to the door, I happened to look down at a newspaper stand right outside the shop. A picture of Ron caught my attention, so I grabbed one and gasped.

"Famous War Hero Ron Weasley Fired from Chudley Cannons for Public Intoxication, Reckless Behavior, and Failure to Show Up to Practices!" the headline screamed followed by three pictures. One depicted Ron stumbling around the street by a pub, drink from a bottle of firewhiskey, then smash it on the pavement. The other two showed him groping and making out with different women in an alley. I was beyond furious. How dare he call me a whore and accuse me of cheating on him when he was doing that very thing! On top of that, he'd been fired and hadn't said anything!

I apparated back to the apartment and slammed the door. Ron looked up from the fridge where he was getting another beer. I stormed over to him and shoved the paper into his face.

"YOU BASTARD!" I screamed. "HOW COULD YOU? AFTER EVERYTHING I'VE DONE FOR YOU!"

Ron looked shocked for a minute as he read the headline and saw the pictures. Turning to me he said, "Herms, baby I-"

"DON'T YOU BABY ME RONALD WEASLEY!" I shouted cutting him off. Then in a calmer voice I said, "How dare you cheat on me with these whores! And then you had the nerve to accuse me of being unfaithful? You've been cheating on me the whole time haven't you?!"

His expression turned from shock to anger. "Well I had to get my needs fulfilled somehow! You couldn't keep me satisfied. And I wasn't going to let you whore around on me without getting some kind of compensation"

I gaped at him. Was he serious? He still thought I'd cheated. How could I when he kept me locked in this apartment day after day? I'd been trying to support him for over a year, completely putting my dreams and life on hold. I forgave him every time he hurt me, though he showed no remorse. But this was it. I'd had enough.

Glaring at him and putting as much venom in my tone as I could I replied, "We're done Ronald. I never want to see you again." With that, I turned on my heel and walked to our bedroom to pack my things.

"What?! You can't leave me! Hey, get back here!" I heard him call, but I'd already pulled my suitcase out and was beginning to pull my clothes from the drawers to put in it. "You're not leaving!" he spat from the doorway, but I ignored him and continued packing my things. So focused was I on my task, I didn't hear him come up behind me.

He grabbed my upper arm tightly and jerked me around to face him. "Did you hear what I said? You're not leaving!" he yelled in my face. I tried twisting out of his grip, but he only held tighter. "Let me go!" I screamed. "You can't control me anymore!" He was bruising my arm and only increasing the pressure. I tried to pry his fingers from me and never saw it coming.

His fist smashed into the left side of my face, turning my head with the force of the blow, and threw me violently to the ground. I clutched my face and tried to scoot away from him, but he grabbed my ankle and pulled me back. He kicked me in the side, then leaned over me and ripped open my shirt. Straddling me, he said in a menacing tone, "I own you, you little slut. You will not talk to me that way again, and you will never leave me!" He began to roughly grope my breasts through my bra, and pinched my nipples hard.

I tried to buck him off, but he smacked my face again. I could taste blood on my lip. He bit my skin right above one of my breast and I cried out in pain. Struggling to get him off once more, he drew back and punched me in the stomach.

He moved down to tear off my skirt. I knew if I didn't do something fast, he was going to violate me in the worst way possible. Thinking quickly, I kicked out my leg trying to buck him off again. He was partially drunk from his earlier drinking and the force of my kicking tipped him to the side just enough for me to reach down and grab my wand from my back pocket. He righted himself and pulled his hand back to hit me again, but I pointed my wand at him and shouted "Stupefy!"

Ron flew back, hit the wall, and crumpled into an unconscious heap on the floor. On an adrenaline rush, I used my wand to fix my clothes, spelled everything into my suitcase, shrunk it, and apparated to the street I knew 12 Grimmauld Place was located.

The wards recognized me as I drew closer and the house revealed itself. I rushed to the front door and pounded on it, praying that Harry was home. It was around three in the afternoon and I had no idea if he was back from auror training or not. Thankfully, luck was on my side because a few seconds later, he opened the door. "Mione?" His eyes widened when he took in my appearance. "What the hell happ-"

Before he could finish his question, I collapsed into his arms and began to sob uncontrollably as the events of the last hour and the past months finally caught up with me. Harry lifted me in his arms and carried me into the sitting room just down the hall. He sat me down on the couch, but continued to hold me and let me cry, not saying anything. My sobs finally faded to soft whimpers after a while, but I was in still in shock.

"I'm just going to floo call someone, I'll be right back" he told me, but I was in too much of a daze to answer. In a matter of minutes, he came back with Ginny on his heels.

"Mione?" Ginny asked softly crouching down in front of me and clasping my hands. Harry sat beside me on the couch again and put his arm around me. Ginny reached up and tentatively touched my chin, bringing my focus back to her. "What happened?"

I took a deep breath, then told them everything, When I was done, Ginny had tears in her eyes and reached up to hug me whispering how sorry she was. Harry had stood and began pacing back and forth in front of us. "I'll kill him" he hissed. "I swear to Merlin, I'll fucking kill him."

"No Harry, he's not worth it" I said.

He looked up at me in disbelief. "Not worth it? Mione he's not about to get away with what he did to you! If you hadn't stupefied him-"
"But I did!" I cried not wanting to broach that topic. "I did and now I'm free. He can't hurt me anymore Harry, so please just let it go. Besides" I continued taking Ginny's hand, "The Weasley's don't need to lose anymore children."

For over an hour Harry and Ginny tried to convince me to press charges against him, but I refused. I didn't want anyone else to know and swore them both to secrecy when they finally, begrudgingly, complied. Ginny healed my face and body and I stayed at Grimmauld Place for a few days. I decided I was going to find my parents, which Ron wouldn't let me do, but first I sent in a request and and application to the ministry. I left after about a week at Harry's to begin my search, and put everything that happened behind me.

When I arrived in Paris, I immediately fell in love with the city. What started out as me only supposed to be there on a temporary assignment, turned into me completely transferring to the French ministry and buying a flat close to work. I was able to set better standards for trade and regulate international standards pertaining to education such as cauldron thickness. Harry and Ginny visited when they could and on one trip decided to elope. Molly wasn't too happy about not being able to throw her only daughter a wedding, but she eventually got over it.

Harry and Ginny's visits became less and less when Harry's career as an auror really took off and Ginny began playing for Puddlemere United. Then my godson James came along and Harry was promoted to Head Auror. We kept in touch by owls, but it wasn't the same. They had begged me to come back ever since James was born, but I just wasn't ready. However over the last few months I was beginning to miss England and my friends terribly. Kingsley was impressed with my accomplishments and begged me to come work for him offering all kinds of raises and vacations. I decided it was time to come back after four long but wonderful years.

Now I'm standing in front of the joke shop. I can't stop the grin from forming on my face as I step into the store and call out "Hello? Anyone here?"

I hear some shuffling at the end of one aisle and seconds later George appears in front of me. He embraces me tightly and with a silly grin says, "Welcome back Mione! Good to have you home."

"Thanks George, it's good to be home" I reply. "Are Harry and Ginny here?"

"Not yet, but they should be any minute" he says leading me to the back of the store where boxes of new products are waiting to be shelved. "I cannot thank you enough for helping me out. I really need to look into hiring extra help, but with the baby coming, we're trying to save up."

"No problem I'm happy to help! How is Angelina by the way?" George and she had finally tied the knot a year ago and were expecting their first child sometime in November.

"Good, good, she's out visiting her mom and sister this weekend." He replied.

We heard the front door open and a small voice call out, "Uncle George?"

"Back here James" he called out.

Small footsteps were hurrying towards us and a second later a small boy appeared looking exactly like a miniature version of Harry minus the glasses and scar. "Aunt Mione!" he exclaimed running towards me.

"James!" I reply with equal excitement as I scoop him into my arms and hug him tight. I see him at least twice a year, once during the summer and once during the holidays. It's not enough and Harry and Ginny pointed that out to guilt me into returning. I'll never let them know it worked. "James, you've gotten so big! You're growing up too fast." I say. I can't believe he's almost three.

I set him down where he runs over to George who shows him some of the new products. I turn back to the doorway to see Harry and Ginny grinning at me. Ginny walks over first and hugs me tightly. "It's so good to have you here Hermione" she whispers before stepping back. Harry comes up then and wraps me in his arms. "Welcome home Mione" he says. He pulls back and with a serious look says, "Don't go back to Paris. You've been gone long enough and we need you here. I'll kidnap you if I have to."

I laugh and tease, "Isn't that sort of going against your job Mr. Head Auror?"

He grins. "I think it'll be overlooked if I say so. After all I am 'The Harry Potter', chosen one and hero for all wizard kind!" His grin vanishes and the serious look comes back. "Honestly Hermione, move back for good. I don't want you to miss anymore of James' life."

I grasp his shoulders and look him in the eye. "Neither do I Harry. I'm staying. I'm home."

The next few hours we spend stocking shelves, opening the store, and helping customers. George wasn't lying when he said this was his busiest time of year. Finally around three, business settles down and there are only a few customers browsing around. I perch myself on a stool near the register and James crawls up in my lap. The poor thing missed his nap today and the effects were already showing.

The door opens again and I see Teddy Lupin holding the hand of a small boy I don't recognize, and running over to Harry and Ginny with a scared look on his face. He says something to them and the next thing I know, Harry is running out of the shop with his wand out. Ginny leads Teddy and the boy over to me and says, "Hermione would you please take all three boys in the back for a little while and keep them entertained?" I want to ask what's going on, but she has a pleading look in her eyes, so I just nod.

Teddy is already pulling the boy to the room and James is following, When we get there, I turn to face them. I notice that the one I don't recognize is crying and Teddy is visibly shaking. James is awkwardly patting the other boy on the head, not knowing what to do.

"Teddy I think there are some toys in the corner over there. Why don't you and James go pick some out" I ask trying to ease him from whatever has him spooked. He nods and goes to look through them with James toddling behind him.

I crouch down in front of the boy and pat his back. "What's wrong sweetie?" I ask softly. He looks up at me with tears in his eyes and I feel so bad for him. This child is absolutely beautiful. He has platinum blonde hair, grey eyes red rimmed from crying, and pale skin. His cheekbones are high and his face is full and cherub like.

"T-t-the bad man tried to hurt m-me. And n-n-now he's gonna hurt d-d-daddy" he chokes out through tears. I pull the boy into my arms, stand up and rub soothing circles on his back as he cries into my shoulder. Rocking him back and forth, I say "Shh…don't worry. My friend Harry is out there right now helping your daddy. He won't let the bad man hurt him."

He calms down after that and pulls back to look at me. "You're friends with Uncle Harry?" he asks.

I nod and say, "Yes. My name is Hermione, but you can call me Mione. What's your name?" Because he came in with Teddy, I already deduced that he knew Harry and Ginny well. Harry had told me on a few visits and over some owls that he'd become friends with a few former Slytherins, one in particular. I have a pretty good idea who this boy is and his answer confirms my suspicions.

"Scorpious" he replies. Yep, knew it. There's only one family I know that name their children after stars and constellations. I'm currently holding my childhood tormentor, Draco Malfoy's son in my arms.

I wonder how Malfoy would feel about a mudblood touching his child, but I push the thought away when I hear Scorpious start to sniffle again. He needs comfort and reassurance right now.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Scorpious" I smile cheerfully at him. "How old are you?"

He brightens considerably at this question and says, "I'll be three on Friday, and I'm having a huge birfday party!"

"That sounds like fun! You sure are a big boy" I tell him tickling his belly. He giggles and then catches sight of something over my shoulder. "Daddy!" he cries out happily.

I turn my head slowly and for the first time six years, meet the grey eyes of my school rival.

AN: Whew! This was a tough chapter to write! Its so much longer than the first, but she has a lot to her story. Let me know how you liked it!