Of course Hermione got the transfiguration Master's job. It was natural that she impressed even old McGonagall with how much she had practiced over three days.
Two actually, Hermione corrected mentally, she did lose that day fighting and then talking things out with Ron. But Luna had been so wonderful. She even stayed away from running the Quibbler, to make sure that Hermione studied, and didn't waste her time moping.
The strange thing was, she felt nothing so phenomenal that it disrupted her mind. She just felt a little dull, and a little numb. She supposed she would feel worse when she had more time to think about it.
It was official. Ron and she had talked the next afternoon, when both were calm enough to talk without hexing (or slapping).
Hermione would remain with Luna and later on, at Hogwarts, while Ron stayed in their home. Hermione had packed her clothes and books, that Ron helped her shift over to Luna's.
Afterward, they had stood awkwardly, not knowing how to say goodbye. They settled for a hug, while Hermione tried not to cry, and Ron tried to look unaffected.
Neither succeeded.
Hermione threw herself into preparing then, for the test with McGonagall, and afterward, in preparing the syllabus. McGonagall had graciously offered to let her stay over the summer at Hogwarts, and Hermione accepted, thinking that it would be a good place to do extensive research on her little side project as well.
It was tough work, Hermione decided, to keep moving around like a nomad, even if her things were shrunk to miniatures.
Half the time, she worried that she would lose them because they were so small!
Luna and Harry helped her settle into her new quarters. Although she found Harry's quite frequent complaints ("OOH! I broke my nail!", "Aah, my robes got a tear!"…) she was very glad he and Luna were there for her.
Harry seemed not willing to hear anything about Ron, what with him interrupting her whenever she so much so as spoke his name; Hermione wondered if he was annoyed with Ron or her or both.
McGonagall dropped in and set up tea for them in the living room, which was quite finished, except Hermione hated the red and gold curtains and hearth rug. What was it with Gryffindor house people to want everything in red and gold? Or Slytherin people to want everything in silver and green?
Hermione decided she would change the drapes and rug after they all left, not wanting to risk Harry's complaints (he-who-lived-on-Gryffindor-colours). However did Draco put up with that?
Harry and Draco's getting together was somewhat of a shock to them; they knew Harry was bent as a bean pole but Draco? Wasn't there some unwritten rule that Purebloods would be minced like Mutton Korma if they so much so as behaved differently?
Apparently even if it was not as harsh, Hermione had heard that Draco was not longer a preferred pureblood; most people only treated him well because of Harry's affiliation, or because of his money.
It was sad really, but ever since Harry and Ginny broke up, Molly was not so comfortable around him, and so Harry had slowly cut off his visits to the burrow.
So Draco had only Harry. Well Harry had her and Ron, and Ginny (who surprisingly forgave him). Draco didn't seem as inclined to spend time in the trio's company, although he constantly hung-out with them. Hermione suspected that Harry somehow bribed him into it.
Draco wasn't all that arrogant now; it was all his Father's doing. Once Lucius took the option of leaving the country under changed identity, like the muggle witness protection program, in exchange for ratting out the hiding death eaters, Draco pretty much took over the Malfoys' holdings in Britain. He was a keen businessman and had multiplied his holdings since then.
Hermione's thoughts then wandered to whether Harry knew about Draco and Charlie, or if Ron chickened out; probably the latter, considering that Harry seemed as usual. If Harry was upset, it would be like a beacon; one simply couldn't overlook the dark brooding nature of an upset Harry.
Hermione's thoughts were interrupted by McGonagall who asked her how she planned to structure her lessons. Hermione explained that she was thinking it over, after looking through McGonagall's older plans and trying to bring them up to date with current developments.
While they discussed their ideas and experiences, Harry and Luna took their leave, promising to visit very soon.
Eventually, McGonagall came around to asking her about Ron's reaction to her decision.
"Oh my! Really? I am so sorry, my dear. Perhaps it was a little my fault also, having Shanghaied you into the job," she worried.
"It was a good thing, this job," Hermione assured her, "it gave us an opportunity to accept what we had been ignoring for so very long. Besides," she grinned, "it was more like Dumbledore did the Shanghai-ing."
"Aye," McGonagall smiled slightly, "it is hard to resist the old codger. But perhaps this could be settled without a divorce?"
"I don't think so. We talked it over and realised that our marriage had been dead a while now. I guess we rushed into it, what with spirits being high after we won the war and all that. Honestly, I think I'm a little relieved that I can resume the kind of life I like from this point forward."
The Headmistress hummed and nodded, and a little while later, she went back to her work, while Hermione went back to re-decorating.
Winky was overjoyed when she found that Hermione would be at the school for the next year at least. Hermione ate lunch in her rooms, and went back to decorating, and making a list of things she might need, either from the Headmistress or from home.
Home, she thought sadly, was no longer hers. She sagged into the chair when it finally hit her that she was no longer married in the true sense. Her life with Ron for eight years which had been, apart from the consistent fights, a wonderful life. Ron was a good man, if not the best husband, but he was still her best friend, at least she hoped they were still best friends.
It wasn't going to be easy.
So for all that was worth, Hermione wept.