Chapter 18 Admissions

"No!" Tears slipped down his lashes, "That is not the same!"

"What makes it so different, Ron? That I know about it, or that you were caught?"

He bristled, "I …" His cheeks flamed red. "I still love you!"

"And I you."

"But you SLEPT with her!" He shrieked.

"And what of Oliver?" She thundered back, "Does it sound better if I say that you Fucked him?"

"It wasn't what you think. I never…"

"Don't!" She snapped, a loud crack reverberating across the room as her magic slicing his cheek. "Even think about it. Not now."

He swallowed, hard. "Hermione, it was only once."

"Per week." She rebuked. "For the last four years."

How did she find out? He thought, desperate to hide the shameful truth."I swear it wasn't…"

"Thursday nights." Hermione's voice taking on a gentler tone, "I just want the truth, Ron. No different than you. And, it seems; we have a lot to talk about."

"How'd you find out?" He asked while sitting heavily onto the chair as he plied pressure to his cheek with a rag.

"I'm your wife." She whispered, anger practically gone as she took a seat across from him at the kitchen table.

"And why did ya never say anything?"

"Because, every evening you came home to me; and if you got something from him that you couldn't get from me. I was alright with it." She fought back the tears, "But this last year…it's been different between us."

"Is that why you went to see her? Because of me and…" His lover's name barely able to leave his lips. "Oliver? That I haven't been home as much."

"No, I told you last night why I went to see her."

Ron gave a grave nod, "That was true?"

"Here." Hermione floated the letter to him. "Read for yourself."

Several seconds went by as he skimmed the contents of the letter before glancing up; tears in his eyes. "Do you love her?"

Brown teary eyes met his, "I don't think I ever stopped. And you," She forced the question from her lips. "Do you love Oliver?"

For years he had lied to his wife, and somehow found the courage to finally reveal the truth. "Yes, I do."

The grandfather clock in dining room chimed, twelve o'clock had come and gone; leaving a deep awkwardness between husband and wife in its wake.

"What now?" Ron asked breaking the stillness.

"I don't know." Hermione stood, stopping in front of the cabinet and pouring herself a generous measure of whisky; "Want a glass?" She asked, glancing over her shoulder.

"Only if it's a double."

"I guess," She poured a second tumbler full as generous as she had for herself before turning back around, "We need to decide what we want to do for not only us, but also regarding the children."

"What would you do if we weren't married?"

"Probably the same as you." She replied as he took his glass. "Explore what my heart craves, but you and I both know what our divorce will mean to the family and the children."

He raised his glass to his lips, pausing briefly. "I doubt either of us would be included in the family functions, and I don't think…I'm ready for that." He took a long swallow before finishing, "Let alone telling anyone else of my…exploits so to speak."

"Me either."

"Then," He stood, "I propose our happiness laced within everyone else's perceptions."

"For a while," She nodded, "Fine. But I'm still going to speak with your mother regarding the letter."

He shook his head, "I don't see it. Mum wouldn't meddle."

"Someone did, and by God I'm going to get a pound of flesh from whomever did or Merlin help them if Minerva gets to them first."

"Don't take this wrong, honey." A light shone in the back of Ron's eyes. "I'd rather face you any day versus McGonagall."

"Minerva." Hermione corrected, and when he went to open his mouth; she continued on. "When it's just you and I, please do try. It feels weird hearing you call her by her last name."

"Thinking of the two of you…you know…is weird."

"And it wasn't for me regarding you and Oliver?"

He held up his hands signaling defeat, a new calmness and layer of understanding exuding from them. "Do you think we can really make this work?"

"For a short time," She nodded, "Yes. I do. The kids are at Hogwarts, we can meet intermittently to keep up the illusion of our marriage to everyone else. It'll be seven month before Rose and Hugo come home, neither are inclined to return for the Holidays; so barring family events we should have ample time to sort out our own personal relationships."

"What if we wait until they graduate from Hogwarts?"

"Ron, Hugo is only in his second year. That would be another five years…"

xoxo

A/N: Did you really think that she and Ron have been happily married for twenty years?