-Chapter 33: Don't Look for Me-

Hermione appeared in front of Number 12 Grimmauld place. It was pouring down rain. She banged on the door loudly until Harry opened it.

"Hermione, come in!" he said with a big smile until he noticed the tears cascading down her cheeks. "Oh no, what's happened?" Harry asked as he led Hermione into the sitting room. She sat down on the couch and Harry wrapped a blanket around her and sat with her.

"It's over, Harry."

"What is?" he asked, confused.

"Me…and Ginny."

"What?? How? Hermione what happened?"

"I went to the Burrow today to surprise her and when I went upstairs I heard her and Ron talking. She told him she didn't want this anymore and that she was going to tell me at the end of the two weeks I was there. She said she couldn't go through with it."

"Hermione…I don't even know what to say. Are you sure that's what she meant? Do you know for sure that's what they were talking about?"

"What else could she be talking about, Harry?!"

"I don't know..."

"What…what am I going to do Harry?" Hermione sobbed, "My entire life has revolved around her for so long that I just don't know what I am going to do."

"You should talk to her and make sure this is what she wants."

"No…I can't. Harry I can't look at her now. I…I need to leave. I need to leave and go somewhere far from here, some other country…and not come back."

"Hermione that's a little drastic, don't you think? You can't just up and leave to a different country."

"Why not? I could work at some other Ministry. I have to leave here Harry, there are too many memories here for me to be able to function properly."

"Listen, why don't you stay here for tonight, I have plenty of room. You need a good nights rest and you can sleep on this."

Hermione nodded and Harry took her up the stairs and into the spare room on the third floor adjacent to the master suite.

"Make yourself at home, 'Mione. If you want to stay here for a while feel free to put your things in the wardrobe. I'll bring you up some tea in a little bit."

"I think I will just stay for tonight, but thank you. I know Ron will be moving in soon and I don't want to face him either."

"Okay, I'll be back in a little bit then."

Hermione went through her bag. Her hand brushed her silk pajamas. She clutched them and gritted her teeth. She pulled them out of the bag. She couldn't ever bear getting rid of them despite the fact that she had to patch up a few places where they were threadbare. The buttons now each were sewn on with bright pink thread since that's all she could find after Ginny had literally torn her shirt off of her one night. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she threw them into the fireplace. She brandished her wand and aimed it at the pile of silk.

"INCENDIO!" she yelled.

The pajamas burst into flames. Hermione fell to her knees and cried.

Harry knocked on the door, there was no answer. He knocked a second time and when there was still no answer he slowly opened the door. Hermione was curled up on the floor. Harry set the tea tray down on the bedside cabinet and knelt in front of Hermione. Her eyes were closed but he could tell she had cried herself to sleep. He gently put a hand on her shoulder and shook her. She roused long enough for him to help her into the bed. When he left he took her wand with him, just in case. Hermione woke up the next morning not remembering where she was or why. She slowly began remembering the events of the previous day. Ginny's conversation with Ron. She came to Grimmauld Place.

She paced and thought about her plans for the day. When she decided what to do she went downstairs and heard Harry in the kitchen. She noticed her wand on the kitchen table, she picked it up and twirled it in her fingers.

"Do you want some breakfast, Hermione? I can cook anything you want."

"No, right now I think I will vomit if I eat anything. How did my wand get down here?"

"I took it last night, I didn't want you blowing up the room. Do you know what you're going to do now?"

"I'm going home today. I'll tell my parents what happened, pack my things, and go to away for a few days at least. If I find that I want to stay wherever I am then I will, if not then I don't know. I am basically just going to go with whatever happens."

"It's not like you to not have a definite plan," Harry said, "are you sure about this?"

"I have to."

"Okay, Hermione. Promise me you will send me an owl when you get to wherever you decide to go?"

"I will. Thank you for everything Harry, I appreciate it."

"What should I tell Ginny if I talk to her?"

"I'm going to go to Diagon Alley before I leave and send her an owl. If she asks you anything just tell her everything she needs to know was in the letter."

"Will do, Hermione. I have to get to work but make yourself at home for however long you need."

"Thank you again Harry."

The two of them hugged and Harry went to up the sitting room to Floo to the Ministry. Hermione wandered around Grimmauld Place until she found Harry's study on the second floor. She sat at the desk with a piece of parchment and a quill.

20 June, 1999
Ginny,

By the time you get this I'll be long gone. I'm sorry I left this way but I couldn't bear to face you. I doubt you will want to but please don't come looking for me. Goodbye.

Hermione

Hermione took the silver ring off of her finger and looked at it one last time before she folded it into the letter and put it in an envelope. She thought about the discussion she and McGonagall had about some people not finding who they are meant to be with. She was sure she could never love anything or anyone as she had loved Ginny. She did wonder for a moment if maybe she should find her and try to talk things through.

"No. She doesn't fucking want me so I don't need her!" she said out loud.

Hermione's sorrow changed to anger as she sat staring at the envelope. She thought that maybe she hadn't truly loved Ginny and that she could accomplish so much more without the clingy redhead hanging on to her. She decided that didn't care about anyone anymore, she would be better off without anyone.

After a loud altercation with her parents, Hermione sent Ginny the letter the next day from the Diagon Alley owlry. She bought a book on Wizarding Paris and then left for King's Cross Station.