Chapter 2

Hear Her Roar

Hermione jumped up from her chair, ready to wrap her cashmere blanket around her husband's shoulders. "Evening 'Mione," he slung his long arm around her in greeting, "you have fun today?"

She smiled nervously up at him, "Yes, but I actually meant to have lunch wi-" she started, but Ron interrupted her: "The party was great! Rockford passed out so Jimmy and Sam stripped him down and hung him from the beams. It was hilarious!" he gurgled excitedly as Hermione led him into their kitchen and sat him down in his usual seat at the head of the table.

"That's really lovely Ronald, yes, lovely." Hermione turned her back to him, leaning against the sink whilst waiting for the kettle to boil. Yes, they owned a kettle. It had been a wedding gift from Mr. Weasley, and Ron always got mortally offended when Hermione didn't use it to save time. She heard her tipsy husband shuffle around and the legs of the chair scrape across the flagged stone floor.

Then she felt his long arms wrap around her waist, his body flush against hers. Her breath hitched and pulse quickened. His fingers traced along the sliver of skin between her jeans and top. She shuddered. His hands slipped under her shirt, sliding across her stomach and slowly moving upwards. He tilted his head down his warm breath skimming across her face, "'Mione."

Her eyes snapped open. The smell of alcohol made her want to retch, but she was used to it. But it was the smell of perfume on him that flicked a switch in her brain. Perfume that wasn't hers.

This was it! This was the last time she was going to put of with this man!

Hermione was sick and tired of Ron commanding her around in her house.

Hermione was sick and tired with him compromising her career, life, friends and family.

Hermione was sick and tired of him coming home at outrageous hours and expecting sex.

Hermione was sick and tired of being the good wife.

This had to end and it was going to end now.

"Stop it Ronald!" Hermione spun around, stepping sideways out of his grasp. "Stop it!"

Ron looked at her, totally confused. No surprise there, he never was the fasted broom in the closet. "'Mione, I thought we could have some fun, you know?" he moved closer to her again.

"No, Ronald, no. I don't know what fun is any more because I haven't had a life since nine years! You just seem to think that I'm some sort of replacement for your mother, but guess what, I'm not! I'm a human being Ronald! A very real being with feelings and emotions! You treat me like some sort of slave of yours, pay no further heed to me like I'm dirt stuck to the bottom of your shoe! The only time I do get the privilege of being acknowledged is when you're horny and completely pissed out of your mind! I am sick of being convenient!"

Ron stared at her like it had just been announced that the Quidditch World Cup had been canncelled until further notice. "But, you never said anything. I had no idea."

"No? I never said anything did I? Oh, Ronald you disgust me. Do you think I don't know that you go off with other, younger, girls? Do you think that's right, just because I never said anything? Do you realise that the reason I never said anything was because I actually believed that our marriage could be saved? I never said anything because I truly believed that you would one day mature and stop acting like a child, and focus on your responsibilities!"

"But...you never said anything."

Hermione thought her mind was going to explode. "I have said plenty over the years, but it's you, Ronald, you, that never once shut up about your perfect little career long enough to listen to what I had to say to you! All I ever wanted, and worked hard for all those years in school, was a career! But it was you Ronald that time and time again stomped on those aspirations with your hurtful and degrading comments! But you know what Ronald? The time has come for my dreams to be heard, they will not be pushed aside and turned into your own all 'cause you wouldn't listen!"

"But 'Mione, I love you." Ron took another, tentative step towards her, but the glower she sent him made him go straight back.

"You know what? Now I'm done believing you, you don't know what I'm feeling! I'm a good person, I deserve better than you! You treated me like crap, so that I couldn't feel at home in my own home. There was never a comfortable minute in my life since I married you. Camping out with Harry in the middle of fucking nowhere, completely abandoned by you, was more enjoyable and carefree than being a resident in this house because of you! All these years, I've tried and tried to say what's on my mind – you should have known, because that's what people do when they love someone: they care for each other!"

Ron's face had gradually been turning redder with every word Hermione screamed at him from across the kitchen. "I did care for you! Look around, you wouldn't have a comfortable bed to sleep in or a nice kitchen to cook in if it weren't for me! I've always kept you safe and warm, what more could you possibly want, Hermione? I think it's you who needs to start listening: you need to stop acting so selfishly!"

"That's rich coming from the person who practically just admitted to valuing material things over love and affection! I'm not a pet Ronald, nor am I your slave! There is someone here in side, someone I thought had died so long ago: Me!" With that, Hermione flew from the kitchen, grabbed her cloak and reached for the front door. But before her fingers could properly close around the doorknob, Ron's strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. "Where do you think you're going!"

"Leaving you, leaving this house, leaving this life. That's where I'm going!" Hermione spat, trying to twist out of his firm hold.

"No you're not. You'll stay right here, where I want you." Ron's eyes flashed as he growled at her.

Hermione straightened her back, looking her husband right in the eye, "I'm more than what you made of me. I followed the voice you gave to me, but now I've got to find my own! You should have listened, Ronald, and I'm leaving now whether you like it or not. I have rights!" And with that Hermione twisted herself violently out of his iron grasp, slapped Ron across the cheek for good measure and fled through the door into the night. The last thing she heard as the grand villa slowly shrank behind her, was her husband shouting "BITCH!" from his silhouette in the entrance.

Where to now? She wondered.

AN: Hola amigos! Anyone pick up the Beyonce lyrics in Hermione's little outburst? Would be kinda surprised if you didn't :D So, sorry for the short chapter, but I didn't want to make it any longer as there's already a lot of heavy stuff in it. Hope you don't mind :)

Don't neglect the reviews peeps!