"I can't believe he did that!" Hermione complained, "I think I made a big mistake…"
"In leaving him or not leaving him earlier?"
"I should have thought about it earlier, but I still feel bad leaving him like that."
"The only things you don't feedl bad for, are stones."
"What?"
"You feel bad for everything and everyone that has a remote trace of life, so I'm not surprised that here you are, in the middle of the night, having left your husband too damn late in your marriage because he is such an ass, and yet you're feeling bad for him."
"Err…"
"You have no sense of self-worth, do you?"
Hermione gaped. If it was anyone else, she would have thought it was said out of spite or anger or revenge, but this…this was Luna. She said things because they were; called a spade a spade.
"Are you going to go back to him?"
"I don't know…" Hermione buried her head in her hands.
"Alright, I have said all I could; it's up to you now."
Luna was gone before Hermione could form a proper response.
"I can't believe she did that!"
Harry rubbed his tired eyes and pulled his nightgown tighter around himself.
"She just walked out on me!"
"And got a good whack at you in the process," Harry yawned hugely.
Ron glared; Harry stared.
"Look, can't we talk in the morning? It's late mate."
"No! How can you sleep when I'm in a crisis??"
"Ron, this is hardly a crisis. You have had plenty of rows, and if you don't let me get back to bed, you'll have to watch me fall asleep here on the rug."
"Harry," Ron sounded so wounded, Harry sighed and relented.
"Alright Ron, come on over. If we're going to keep this up, I'm going to need a lot of tea in me."
Ron nodded and waited for Harry to move away from the fireplace before stepping through.
With tea in hand, Harry was quite awake.
"She didn't really leave you, she's probably gone to Luna's to cool off."
"Harry, I know Hermione, this time, she is probably not coming back."
"You can't be serious? Is this because of, you know, what happened last night?"
"Err… no, we got into this row before I could confess."
"Were you planning to confess at all?" Harry asked sharply.
"Harry! That's not the point now!"
"Augh! You are an animal Ron!"
"Hey, what was that for?"
"She was probably going to leave you after you told her anyway!"
"You're not helping!"
"Either you two shut the hell up, or put up a bloody silencing spell!"
Both men looked up at Draco, who stood glaring at the living room door.
"Sorry love, Ron was just leaving."
"Harry! I need you mate!"
"What you need is to talk to Hermione, without being an ass," Harry raised his hand to cut off whatever retort Ron had in mind, "And you need to understand that Hermione is not your personal servant to do as you tell her to."
"How'd you know what we fought about? Did she come here?" Ron was wide-eyed.
"No you berk, what else have you two been fighting about other that that? She gave up so much for you Ron, and you can't even treat her right!"
"I'd have to agree with Harry here, you are obviously unsuited to treating any intelligent life form right. It's just not you."
"Shut it Ferret, you're the one to talk!"
"What's that supposed to mean Ron?" Harry clenched his fists.
Draco's eyes blazed in warning. Remember your vow.
Ron sagged a little, "Nothing," he mumbled, "I'll just go."
"Right. Something's not right," Harry looked between the two men glaring holes into each other, "you two are acting strange."
"Oh, I'm sure he's probably hit his empty head somewhere," Draco yawned delicately, avoiding Harry's questioning gaze, "Let's go back to bed, Weasel can find his way home."
Ron growled, but turned and snatched some Floo powder, tossing it vengefully in the fire.
"Ron, don't mispronounce and land up god knows where in your fury."
"I'm not stupid!" Ron yelled and left.
"Yes, you are, Ronald; you are," Harry said to the empty living room, before following Draco back to bed. He'd talk to Ron in the morning, when he wasn't so messed up.
Ron and Hermione sat in different kitchens, wondering what had gone wrong.
Had they rushed into this marriage and too soon? Had they grown apart in the years? Did they not understand each other well enough?
Yes, they both agreed that all these were the problem. Neither wanted to accept the solution.
Neither of them slept very well at all.
"So have you made up your mind?"
"I think so." Hermione started to cry.
"And?"
"It's time we lived apart for a bit, give some space to each other."
Harry nodded, and watched Ron look out the window.
"It's just that…" Hermione sniffed, and Luna waited.
"We've been together so long and wanted each other even longer," Ron drank his butterbeer.
"It's hard to just throw all that away, but the truth is…" Hermione wiped at a tear.
"We've grown apart, and I think we need to think about what to do."
"It's better that you haven't had any children. This way, the break is cleaner."
Luna and Harry sipped their tea.