Author's Note: Well, this story started off as a planned six chapters two years ago as a personal challenge. I never expected it to take this long to write or that it would end up two and half times longer than I expected. Those who know me well know that I didn't enjoy this challenge whatsoever (that's also why it took me so long to complete), but I'm glad it's done.

Thank you to those who stuck around for so long even when it seemed I was never going to finish this story and a big thank you to all who supported me by reviewing and favoriting. As much as I always appreciate the enthusiasm when I finish a story, please forgive me for stating that there will not be a sequel or an epilogue. (This story was difficult enough to write and I have no desire to prolong the torture. Haha!) At least this is more than twice the size of a regular chapter!

I hope you enjoy the last chapter!

Return to the Real World

There was little point in remaining at the edge of the lake continuing to make a bloody fool of herself. Hermione was embarrassed that she allowed herself to cry where his excellent canine hearing could no doubt hear. She'd hoped as she made her way down the familiar path to where she thought she might find Rodolphus that she would be able to remain calm and collected. It would be a shame if his last memory of her was simply further proof that she was indecisive and incapable of trusting her own decisions. There was a time when she was once confident in everything she did not matter the tenseness of the situation.

Even just thinking that nonsensical thought brought a self-deprecating smile to her lips. Perhaps there were people out in the wide world who didn't really know her who might assume that was the truth. She spent most of her life projecting a sense of self-confidence to the rest of the world that she didn't actually feel inside. Her constant demand that she be the best at everything wasn't because she actually felt like she was. There had been a thirst to prove herself worthy of being a witch from the moment she picked up her first wand and an equally powerful fear that she would never belong. For many, many years she'd been lying to herself, convincing herself that she was as confident as she pretended.

Not for a single moment was she forced to pretend she was more than she was with Rodolphus. He relaxed her in a manner few, if any, had been able to before. Maybe that was why she was so drawn to him. When she was with him, she never felt the urge to prove her worthiness. Either she was accepted or she wasn't. And he'd certainly made her feel accepted. At least when he wasn't running off in the middle of the night after their first kiss. Even then he returned and offered her an impressive apology.

Wiping her eyes on her sleeve, Hermione attempted to pull herself together. What would crying accomplish? What had it ever accomplished before in her life? No longer able to see the animagus running in the distance, she turned her attention to the confused puppy sitting on her hind legs completely bewildered by the turn of events between the humans. She dropped to her knees to snuggle Millie and scratch her until she was no longer upset.

"Take care of him for me, Millie."

The puppy's bark and a lick to Hermione's face was her response. Part of her was tempted to pick up the growing dog and carry her away. She didn't want to imagine her life without the excited bundle of fur. It was possible her six weeks stay might have turned her into something of a dog person after all. Certainly she could finally understand the appeal of opening her heart and her home to a dog.

But, she didn't exactly have a home to go back to. The flat she shared with Ron was the absolute last place in the world she ever wanted to spend another moment. He could have it, contents included. Wherever she chose to go, she'd start fresh. Besides, the thought of having Millie without Rodolphus was too depressing to consider following through on the theft. Every time she looked at the Saint Bernard, she would think of him. Giving Millie one more scratch behind her ears, Hermione rose to her feet. If she didn't leave soon, she was in danger of never being able to go. The pull to remain was too strong.

A gentle command kept the puppy from following her back up the path to the cottages. Hermione knew that eventually her master would come back to collect her from the edge of the lake. Each step that took her further away from the area where she knew Rodolphus still roamed became harder and harder. By the time she could see the cottages up ahead, she was half-convinced that she was making a terrible mistake in leaving. Knowing that she was only making it more difficult, she picked up her bags from inside the cottage, gave it one final look, and Disapparated away from the area.

Her feet landed in front of the entrance to Diagon Alley behind the Leaky Cauldron. Without a proper home anymore, she needed a place to stay temporarily. She hoped that when she walked inside the popular wizarding tavern that she wouldn't be spotted by anyone who knew her. Based on what little she learned from Rodolphus, the press hadn't exactly been kind to her since she disappeared. Not that she expected any less. Rita Skeeter was a wretched cow.

Thankfully, very few patrons were inside the famous establishment when she entered. A short conversation with Tom the proprietor secured her a private room upstairs. She climbed the rickety, narrow stairs, ignoring everyone else. Once her bags were safely stowed in the room, she prepared herself for a visit she knew she didn't want to make. There would be no way to move on if she didn't.

She took her time checking her appearance in the mirror in her room before she stepped outside again. It was very important that she remain as calm and collected as it was physically possible to be. Arriving with red, blotchy skin and tear-filled eyes wouldn't send the right impression. She smoothed her unruly hair down as much as she could. Satisfied with her reflection and with an extra boost of confidence provided by the kind voice in the magical mirror encouraging her, she left her room.

The journey she took was one that she could've completed in her sleep. Over the years since she first arrived in the magical world aware that there were such things as witches and wizards, she had lost count the number of times she had gone to the familiar place. Once it felt like a second home to her, a place where she could always find comfort and rest when it was needed. Some of her happiest memories took place underneath its simple roof. A rush of reminiscences flooded her mind as she Apparated to the edge of the property's protective wards.

She would always love the Burrow with every fiber of her being. Never had she felt more welcome in a single place or with a single family. Even when she was still figuring out her place in the new, scary world she learned she was a part of thanks to some accident of birth, she never felt anything less than love and friendship in the quirky home of the Weasley family. Realizing that she was likely looking at it for the very last time ripped at her heart. She could feel the tears begin to accumulate in the corners of her eyes. Taking another deep breath and wiping at her eyes again, she crossed over the boundary.

Her appearance was a surprise to the only two Weasleys still in residence of the home. Not that either one of them would have let on that her unexpected arrival was anything less than a treat. She adored her in-laws. How many people in the world could be fortunate enough to say the same? Part of what she loved about Ron, once upon a time, was the family that he came from. Their relationships and interactions weren't always perfect, but she would've had it no other way. They were a real family. One that she had been pleased to be considered a part of. Having to walk away from them all was a pain to her heart.

"Come on in, dearie, and I'll put the kettle on."

Molly bustled around the cozy kitchen, happily pretending for the moment that there was nothing strange or odd about her daughter-in-law's visit. On the surface to anyone who might have just been looking in on the pair, it would seem like an ordinary visit for tea. Not anything else. Hermione sat at the familiar table she'd shared countless meals with the family watching her mother-in-law do her best impression that the world was perfect.

"Arthur will join us in a few minutes. He's out tinkering in his shed again. Don't even ask me what he's up to. I'd rather not know."

It was a nice fantasy to believe that Hermione wasn't likely there for her last pot of tea. Or that this was probably the last time she would have the chance to spend a few minutes alone with the inhabitants. If she allowed herself, she could see years, decades even, of holidays, birthdays, and simple Sunday afternoons enjoying each other's company in the home. When she lost the remnants of her family due to her actions and their inability to understand that what she did was for their own protection, she clung to the Weasleys. Perhaps she'd clung a bit too hard. Staying with Ron because of his family was wrong. While he hoped that a part of her could fill whatever hole he had in his heart from the losses of the war, she hoped that his family would fill the hole left behind by hers. Neither of them were right in expecting the other to complete them. Their marriage was doomed to fail from the very beginning even if they weren't able or willing to see so.

"I've been thinking a lot about you lately."

Molly Weasley was often misunderstood by those who didn't know her well. Though it was evident to everyone, including the woman herself, that she could be a bit bullish in her opinions, even if they were wrong, she had many excellent qualities that Hermione admired. She was fiercely loyal, almost to the point that it was a detriment. Simply seem to hurt someone that she loved and that unfortunate soul would feel the wrath of her anger. Hermione herself had been the victim of that when she was younger. She'd forgiven the older witch for being so cold when there was a misunderstanding about her relationship with Harry during their fourth year. Molly admitted that she had been wrong many times over the years and begged Hermione for her forgiveness. When that fierce loyalty was turned around on someone else because of her love for her youngest daughter-in-law as it had on a few occasions over the years, Hermione couldn't hold an old grudge any longer.

"I'm sorry that I just sort of disappeared on everyone."

"No, no, dear. There's nothing to apologize for. Once Fleur assured me you were all right and then Kingsley confirmed it for me, I wasn't worried."

"You talked to Kingsley?"

"Of course I did! You don't think I'd just let him take one of my children off to some undisclosed location without getting some guarantee that you were safe and all right? He might be the Minister for Magic, but I've known him long before he was so important."

Hermione felt the corner of her mouth lift up into a smile. No, even the Minister for Magic wasn't immune from Molly Weasley when she was on a tear and determined to make certain one of her children was all right. It meant the world to Hermione that she considered her one of her own. Would she always feel that way? Or would their relationship crumble just as thoroughly as hers with Ron had? She didn't want to think about the future without the calming, and sometimes infuriating, presence of the woman across the table in it. But, she knew she would have to.

"Did your trip help you relax at all?"

Hermione wished she had someone she could truly confide in about what really happened while she was staying in the cottage. So much was going on inside of her that she felt like she might explode if she didn't tell someone. Unfortunately, as much as she loved Molly and truly cherished her advice, this was not a subject to bring up to her mother-in-law, especially considering there was still hope that she could reconcile with her youngest son. Considering her depressing lack of friends due to years of pushing people away thanks to her obsessive need to work too hard, she wasn't even sure who she could talk to about any of this. She wanted to know that she wasn't going completely crazy, that she was making the right decision. Even if she couldn't divulge all of the details of her whirlwind romance and heartbreak with Rodolphus, she wanted to at least talk about some of it.

Knowing that she needed to keep her head straight and her thoughts focused on the real reason why she came to the Burrow, Hermione attempted to push all thoughts of the enigmatic wizard out of her head. All thinking about him was doing was making her even more confused. She couldn't afford to be distracted. Like ripping a plaster off in one go to keep from prolonging the pain, she knew it was best to just get it over with. Part of her was thankful that Arthur was still out in his shed full of his Muggle collection. She wasn't sure that she could say the words she needed to say with him looking at her with his disappointed expression.

"Yes, it helped a lot actually. I was able to get a great deal of thinking done."

"Good. I've found that taking a break can really help. Not that I was able to do much of that when my children were young, but now it seems that I have nothing but time alone."

Molly let out a wistful sigh. Though she had made her choices and seemed to be perfectly content in them, many times over the years Hermione felt a bit sad for the older witch. When her children were still living at home, she was kept in a constant state of busyness keeping them fed and clothed and otherwise cared for. As they one by one left their childhood home, she had become less and less vital to the running of her family. What had once been her great purpose was sadly no longer necessary. Sure, there were grandchildren to care for and she was glad to do so, but it would never be the same. That had been the kind of existence that Hermione always feared. Just like her Muggle mother, she never wanted to be stuck at home raising children. While that was fine for many women, it wasn't what she wanted.

"I made my decision, Molly. I'm terribly sorry to be a disappointment to you, but I'm afraid that I can't stay married to Ron."

The words came gushing out of her mouth in a torrent she couldn't control. She'd hoped before she came by to give her in-laws the bad news that she would be able to remain calm through the entire visit. Even if they weren't her parents by blood, she hated the very idea of disappointing them or upsetting them in any way. When Molly didn't say anything immediately in response to her hurried statement, Hermione feared that they were about to have a heated discussion on their hands. They'd had many of those over the years about a variety of topics, both innocuous and quite serious. No doubt disgracing the Weasley family with the first divorce in family history was going to fall into the latter category. Nervous at first to look the family matriarch in the eyes, when she didn't say anything, Hermione hazarded a glance.

All she saw was the very same kindness that she'd seen each and every time Molly rushed over to their flat after she'd suffered another miscarriage. Hermione wasn't fair to her mother-in-law. She was opinionated and far too meddlesome in her adult children's relationships, but it truly came from a place of love. For every argument that they'd had over the years, there had been just as many heartfelt conversations alone that she cherished. When she was angry with her husband it was easy to lump his mother into her rage with him. While she might not have been the easiest at showing how much she cared, there was no doubt that she would be there to support those she loved with everything she was when it was necessary. Guilt stabbed at Hermione's gut at the the reminder that she'd not always been kind. Realizing she was losing the only mother she had left helped her forget how troublesome their relationship could be at times.

"If I've ever made you feel as if you were a disappointment to me, Hermione, I beg you to forgive me."

Molly's hands reached across the table to grasp each of Hermione's. Startled at first by the woman's statement and the affectionate gesture after revealing her plans to divorce her son, the younger of the two witches didn't know what to say. All words seemed to have temporarily exited her mind. She was unable to form a coherent sentence. Thankfully, while she composed herself, Molly kept speaking.

"All I've ever wanted for my children, all of my children, was for them to be happy."

"And you're not disappointed that I want to divorce Ron?"

She squeezed her hands gently as she sighed. The tension in the room began to rise just a little bit. Hermione worried that the rest of their conversation wasn't going to go as well as the beginning. If she was completely honest with herself, she'd half-expected the entire discussion to be conducted in Molly's screams of anger and frustration. She never imagined that either of them would remain so calm for so long.

"Of course I'm disappointed, dearie. Very, very disappointed. I'd imagined such a lovely future for the two of you. While you were aware that I wasn't in favor of any of you marrying so young and so quickly, I hoped that everything would work out in the end. But, Hermione, I want you to be happy. And I want Ronald to be happy. It's been obvious for the past few years that neither one of you are happy together."

"Ron said that you wanted him to do whatever was necessary to make it right because no one in the Weasley family had ever been divorced."

Her second sigh was filled with more frustration than sadness. Taking a moment to exhale and gather her thoughts, Molly didn't immediately respond. Hermione worried that the moment she feared was finally happening. And it had been such a pleasant conversation! She had been more than a little surprised that they were both able to remain calm for so long without blowing up at the other. Perhaps they were setting a new family record.

"As his wife, I'm sure you are all too familiar with how Ronald tends to not listen to what you say and instead hears what he wants to hear."

"Well, yes…"

"It's not entirely his fault. Most men are like that. Godric knows he gets some of that from his father, but no, that is not what I told him. I told him that he should've been trying to make it right between the two of you for the entire length of your marriage, that ignoring the problems until they couldn't be ignored any longer was how marriages ended and wouldn't it be a shame to be the first Weasley to ever go through a divorce? I know that horrible woman Arthur's younger brother is married to will be overjoyed to hear the news."

The over-exaggerated roll of her eyes made Hermione laugh. The two sisters-in-law had never gotten along in the decades that they'd been married to brothers. While she didn't personally have any issues with her husband's aunt by marriage, Hermione knew that the woman in question could be a tad overly proud when it suited her purposes. Yes, she would be the sort of person to gleefully spread gossip behind their backs about the 'shame' of the other side of the Weasley family.

"I'm sorry to be the cause of that."

"No, Hermione. There is nothing for you to be sorry about. Did you know I always thought my parents should've gotten divorced?"

That was certainly news to Hermione. Both of Molly's parents were dead long before she ever met the Weasley family. Something about an outbreak of dragon pox when she was a child. It was a disease that often struck down the elderly who were less able to fight it off. Ron didn't remember much about them. His memories weren't very clear. He'd been very young when they died within weeks of each other.

"No Prewetts have ever gotten divorced either, but there were quite a few that should've in my opinion. My parents couldn't stand each other. Always bickering and fighting. While they only just annoyed each other before, after my brothers were killed by Death Eaters, they grew to loathe the very sight of the other."

She spoke calmly about her twin brothers, Gideon and Fabian, being murdered by the followers of Lord Voldemort, but Hermione felt her stomach twist into knots at the mention. It had been less than a week since she'd last invited a former Death Eater into her bed. What would Molly think of her if she knew that? She doubted she would be trying so hard to assure her that she only wanted her to be happy and that she wasn't a disappointment. Likely she would toss Hermione out of the Burrow on her arse with instructions that she never return again.

"No one should spend their lives miserable, Hermione. No one. I wish that you and Ronald would have been able to make it work, but I'm also realistic. Better that you move on from each other than end up bitter and angry like my parents. Perhaps if they'd ignored what was customary, they might have had the opportunity to find happiness elsewhere. For all I know, they could both still be alive today."

Every word that came out of Molly's mouth was a complete surprise to Hermione. She might have been full of useful advice over the years when they had had other conversations, but something about this discussion would always stick out in her mind. She'd been vulnerable with her, shared information about her family that she never would've heard from anywhere else. The confrontation that she was afraid would turn out so terribly, wasn't unfolding at all like she expected.

"I want you to find your own happiness, Hermione. Just as I want Ronald to find his. As much as you might both care for each other, and I don't imagine that's changed all that much, you aren't a good fit for each other. I wish I could say that this was all a surprise to us, but it's not."

Molly released her hold on Hermione's hands to stand to her feet. Following her lead, when she stood, she found herself enveloped in the older witch's arms again. She tried to push away the thoughts that this would likely be the last time that she was able to hug the woman. It was a sad thought. She was grateful for Arthur's entrance into the kitchen a few moments later. Not only did it give her the chance to step out of the embrace to hug her father-in-law, but it greatly changed the atmosphere of the entire house. Gone was the tension. With Arthur present, they were able to continue having a serious discussion about the future, but one less fraught with such anxiety.

She didn't remain much longer at the Burrow after that. It was important to Hermione that she say her goodbyes to the witch and wizard who had selflessly stepped in to be her parents when she found herself without any. They would always hold a very special place in her heart. After making her promises that she would still make an effort to come visit them when she wished, she walked to the edge of the property for what she was sure would be the very last time. She made one final survey of the place that had played host to some very happy memories for her over the years before Disapparating away to a future that was still so uncertain.

He was out of breath before he stopped running. What possessed Rodolphus to go so far was unclear even to him. He didn't usually like to stray too far from the cottage, especially not if Millie was left alone. She could get into trouble faster than any other creature he knew. But, putting enough distance between himself and Hermione was necessary to keep from behaving like a complete and utter lovesick fool. She deserved better than what he could offer.

A delightful fantasy took root in his heart the first time he saw her sitting on those steps crying. He would whisk her away from all of her problems to a place where they could be free to be happy together. For as long as she'd allow him, he would spend every moment doing whatever was necessary to make her smile. Where they would live wasn't important. It would have to be another country, of course. Beyond that one requirement, there were infinite possibilities for their future plans. He would do whatever she asked just so long as he never had to see or hear her cry again. That was unbearable. He felt so helpless, especially when he was the source and cause for her grief.

But, he understood all too well that his fantasy could never come true. Outsiders could call him whatever insulting name they could think of and it still wouldn't matter. She deserved better than a fugitive Death Eater on the run from his violent past. Maybe in the beginning they could run away and have some grand adventure together… at least for a little while. Eventually, the novelty of their new life would wear off and she would come to resent it, resent him. Being stuck in another relationship with a woman who didn't truly want to be there sounded unbearable. Rodolphus wasn't sure he had the fortitude to endure that nightmare again. Sharing a life with someone else who didn't want to be there was torture for both parties. Hadn't she already suffered enough? He knew he had.

Once he was able to catch his breath, he turned his ears to listen for more sounds of the witch at the edge of the lake. Either she was gone or he'd simply travelled to far away to hear. Turning around, he began retracing his steps at a much slower pace. The closer he got to the lake, the more he was convinced she'd left. He felt like a fool for how he said his goodbyes.

There was no sense in regret. He couldn't change the past no matter how hard he wished. She deserved better than him. This was just more evidence of that fact. Maybe by allowing her to leave in such a way would keep her from second-guessing herself and wanting to come back. If she ever did, he knew he would be powerless to refuse her.

Millie was still sitting where he'd left her to his immense relief. Every day she was showing signs of rapidly developing intelligence, but she was also displaying an aptitude for mischief. He was glad she hadn't fallen into the water or chased after Hermione. At his approach, she removed her gaze from the path home to look at her newly returned master. A mournful whine from her threatened to rip his heart out of his chest. He understood what she was feeling all too well. Transforming back into a man, he scooped up his dog in his arms to snuggle.

Several minutes passed of him doing nothing more than staring out over the land he'd made his home for the last few years. He'd found a large measure of peace there he never expected. It was going to be difficult to leave. As much as she hated to think so, it was no longer safe. Hermione knew his true identity and his location. What if she had a crisis of conscience later? He couldn't exactly blame her if she turned him in. After all, he was a very dangerous criminal. He belonged in Azkaban no matter what he tried to convince himself of otherwise.

Setting Millie down on her paws to her great disappointment, Rodolphus took a deep breath. He couldn't avoid the cottage forever. The walk up the familiar path never seemed to take so long before. Time threatened to stand perfectly still. When he finally arrived, he could tell she was gone. The entire area was eerily quiet. It saddened him to know that he would never see her walk out of her front door again or pass by the kitchen window.

Millie's bark broke him out of his depressing thoughts. She had her attention focused on the front door, her tail wagging furiously enough that he worried she might topple over. Maybe she hadn't left yet like he feared. He could have one more chance to say goodbye to her without completely embarrassing himself again. She deserved an apology for his rude behavior. The knob turning and the door beginning to open made him smile. There was still time.

"Hello there, Rod. How are you?"

His smile slipped when he realized it wasn't Hermione at all. Sada Shafiq returned his initial smile, a knowing twinkle in her remarkable eyes. He always got the impression she was more perceptive than she let on. Clearing his throat, he replied with an inane assurance that he was perfectly all right. Annoyed that she was the wrong witch, he resumed his walk home.

"I was just inspecting the cottage, making sure everything was in order."

Either she missed that he was eager to get away or she simply didn't care. Sada stepped down the front stairs to block his retreat. A stunning witch, he had to concede the fact that his younger brother always had exceptional taste in women. There was a time when he first moved into her cottage that he wondered what it might be like to make their relationship a little less professional.

In the end, he changed his mind. She was intimidating, never one to share exactly what was on her mind. He couldn't afford to let an intelligent Slytherin from an influential family in his life any more than was absolutely necessary. Sometimes, like in that exact moment, he got the strong impression that Sada wouldn't be opposed to an invitation from him into her bed he rented.

"Where are you running off to in such a hurry?"

"Just home, Sada."

He wasn't in the mood. She was always a very nice woman and over the years they'd had several interesting conversations, but something about the way she was looking at him failed to put him at ease. Rodolphus felt suspiciously like a helpless fly being drawn into a spider's web. Sada wanted something from him and she was about to use all of her best weapons against him to get whatever it was. Deciding to give her a few minutes of his time, he didn't rush off immediately.

"Did you have a chance to meet the guest who was staying here?"

A frustrated sigh came out of his mouth before he could stop it. Of course she would be interested in gossip about Hermione. No doubt she was part of the biggest scandal of recent months. Sada wanted insider information. The tiniest bit of respect he always felt for the woman began to dim just a little. Rodolphus wasn't going to lie, but he certainly wasn't going to tell her the complete truth. As the cousin of the Minister for Magic, Sada understood that there were some topics that she couldn't necessarily sell to interested newspapers. That wouldn't stop her from sharing what she knew in her private circles of acquaintances and friends. No one deserved to have their privacy invaded, especially not Hermione. She'd suffered enough thanks to her husband.

"Yes, I spoke with her a few times. Mostly she kept to herself."

"Did she tell you anything interesting?"

"Afraid not. Like I said, she mostly kept to herself."

Sada visibly deflated at his answer. Her pretty lips pouted in her disappointment. A large part of Rodolphus was glad to be able to keep Hermione's secrets away from people who had no business knowing them. Not that Sada was a bad person in the slightest. She was simply curious about the scandalous affairs of others. People all over the world loved to read about the misfortunes of others, especially those who were famous, in magazines and newspapers. Even if Hermione was no longer a part of his life and had only been there for a very short period of time, he was honored to keep her secrets. No one would hear idle gossip about her come out of his mouth.

"When you talked to her, did she tell you whether or not she was getting a divorce?"

"Excuse me?"

He was beginning to get angry. This was no one else's business. Why did this woman care if Hermione's marriage was crumbling or not? Clearly not catching the note of anger that was steadily rising in his words and the reddening of his neck, Sada continued on.

"Oh, that's a pity. Bookmakers in Knockturn Alley are accepting bets on whether or not they get divorced and when it happens. I was hoping you had some inside information to help my chances."

Few times in his life had he ever wanted to strangle a woman so strongly. Most of them involved his late wife. He couldn't believe Sada was talking so openly about placing money down on whether or not someone's marriage would fail. How barbaric had their world gotten in the years since he'd been locked away in Azkaban? If that was how their society behaved, he was glad he kept to himself. It was appalling. Knowing that there were hundreds of others just like Sada out there placing actual bets on other people's lives made him so disgusted that he knew he couldn't remain in her presence much longer. Not if he wanted to keep from repeating some of his crimes as a Death Eater.

"Honestly, Sada, even if I did know something about her marriage, I wouldn't tell you. That's disgusting. They're actually taking bets?"

"I know. It's horrible. You weren't a Slytherin, were you, Rod?"

He rolled his eyes. Thanks to the spells he'd carefully crafted when he first approached her years earlier to live in her holiday cottage, she was only able to remember vague details about their previous conversations. A few times, when he allowed their conversation to go on for too long, she got dangerously close to figuring out his true identity. He'd had to obliviate her a couple of times for his own peace of mind. If he allowed their conversation to continue, he worried he would have to do the same.

"Slytherin or not doesn't matter. I wouldn't bet on another person's marriage."

It was a Lestrange family tradition that they all get Sorted into Slytherin. As much as he desired to be in any other Hogwarts House, eleven year old Rodolphus begged the Sorting Hat to put him in the same House that generations of his family were placed in. He didn't want to imagine the shame that his parents would feel if he ended up elsewhere. Self-preservation and the desire to follow the traditional path of his family was enough to get him the proper response from the old hat. But, regardless, he meant what he said. Even if he possessed every single trait of a proper Slytherin, he still wouldn't understand why the woman thought it was perfectly acceptable to place bets on something so appalling. Just because she saw the opportunity to make a few galleons using less-than ethical means didn't mean what she was doing was acceptable.

"I will be leaving at the end of the week. It's time I moved on."

His announcement startled them both. He knew that he was eventually going to have to move on, but part of him could see the appeal of lingering a little while longer. Just long enough to drive himself completely mad with the possibility that Hermione could return. It was foolish to stay. Sada's reminder of the ugliness of his fellow witches and wizards made him suddenly long for a fresh start somewhere else in the world. Maybe there existed places where the inhabitants were actual kind to each other. Wouldn't that be a pleasant change?

"All right, Rod. I'm sorry to be losing you, of course, but I understand. I will be back in a few days."

She made her excuses to leave. Rodolphus whistled to Millie to follow him into their cottage. It was time to pack up their belongings again. This time, he wasn't going to unpack them again.

The first day back at the Ministry was always going to be stressful. Hermione knew that all along. When she rose from her bed in the Leaky Cauldron after a restless night of very little sleep, she knew it would be best to just get it over with. Nothing about her life was ever going to be the same again. It was time that she faced her new reality.

Once upon a time she actually looked forward to going into the Ministry each morning. She also loved to stay long after most everyone else went home. There was a peace she could find in her work that she couldn't at home. She knew that should've been a sign that she should change how she was living. Too little, too late. The past couldn't be changed. She had to make do with the present her decisions and mistakes created.

Her return was was met with a great deal of curiosity. Only steps inside the Atrium she felt eyes on her, watching every single move she made. Some of the other Ministry officials sought her out to speak to her and ask how she was doing. It all felt a bit odd and forced. None of them were her friends. Why would they care enough to ask after her when they used to be so content to ignore her existence? It was unnerving.

Even in her own department she felt like a curious spectacle. Where her office once felt like her private sanctuary, it rapidly began to feel more like her prison. Almost immediately after arriving, she noticed a surge of activity just outside her door. Were they all out there just to get a glimpse of her? Maybe they were hoping for a repeat performance of her last breakdown. Whatever it was, she wished they would stop. She was struggling to remain there as it was. They were not helping.

All she wanted to do was go back to the cottage that had been her home for the past six weeks and hide. It had been so peaceful there. Nothing at all like returning to the Ministry. She missed the ability to take long walks and long naps without fear that someone she didn't like was going to say something nasty to her.

Mostly though, she missed Rodolphus. There was no reason for her to deny the truth. Every moment she wasn't with him, she missed him. How was it possible that he was able to make such an impact on her in such a short time? It made no sense. She knew it was crazy to imagine there being even the slightest possibility that they could ever manage to make a relationship work, but she could think of very little else she desired. Even assuming they could work, how would they live? They couldn't be open about their relationship. Not without the very likely possibility of Rodolphus being sent back to Azkaban and she being charged with the crime of aiding a fugitive. Her friends and family would certainly never accept her decision to make a life with a former Death Eater.

It was a miserable day. Long before it was over, she was ready to run away. Her assistant tried her best to bring her up to speed about everything she missed during her forced sabbatical to no avail. Hermione's mind kept wandering, unable to stay focused on anything the poor woman said. How she used to find her work so fascinating and fulfilling in the past was a mystery. Had she really changed so much in six weeks? Or would she just need some time to adjust to her normal routine again?

By lunchtime, she was convinced that she would never be able to slide back into a normal existence working at the Ministry of Magic. Every single piece of parchment that crossed her desk threatened to bore her to tears. All morning long there was a steady stream of visitors who made ridiculous excuses to stop in for a chat. None of them were her friends, none of them wanted to speak to her before she left. Why was she suddenly so popular? Ordinarily, her coworkers did their best not to make eye contact with her in the lifts for fear that she would corner them into a conversation about werewolf rights that they didn't care to have. Now, several of them were bold enough to ask her outright if she was planning on following through with her divorce to Ron and if so, when did she expect to file the required paperwork? It was all bizarre.

She declined three different invitations from people she hardly knew to join them for lunch in the Ministry canteen. Needing just a few minutes of peace, Hermione closed the door to her office. While under no delusions that a closed door was going to deter everyone, she hoped that it might at least give the impression that she was no longer inside her office long enough to give her a break. The weeks spent at the cottage gave her ample opportunity to think about what she wanted her future to look like. Hiding in her office was not one of the options.

A knock at the door ruined all plans for a quiet lunch break. She didn't speak or even dare to breathe in the hopes that whomever it was would eventually give up and go away. After a third knock and then a fourth, she got the impression that they were too tenacious to give up. Considering very seriously about casting a disillusionment spell on her body and hiding under her desk for the rest of the day, Hermione was desperate. Would it always feel like this?

"Hermione, it's Kingsley. I know you're in there."

It was bad form to deny the Minister for Magic access to her office. Considering his lofty position within their government, she wouldn't have been surprised to discover that he had the authority to demand an audience with whomever he wished whenever he wished as long as they were employed by the Ministry. Kingsley was never one to throw around the weight of his power for selfish gain. It was one of the main reasons why he'd remained so popular since the beginning of his first term.

"Come in."

The Minister let himself in. There hadn't been a chance to see him yet that morning. Too many other people were demanding her time and he was always a very busy wizard. Even though they worked in the same building, it wasn't uncommon for entire months to pass without their paths even crossing. She wasn't surprised to see him. No doubt he was worried just like everyone else that she was on the verge of another breakdown. He didn't even wait for an invitation to take a seat in one of the chairs on the other side of her desk. Clearly, this was a visit that was going to take more than a few moments.

"How was this morning, Hermione?"

She assured him, unconvincingly, that it was all right. What else could she say? That she was seriously considering throwing away the life that she'd spent years building for the unknown? It wasn't like her to not have a plan thought out in great detail. Kingsley, along with everyone else in her life, would accuse her of behaving out of character to just drop everything and run. For the first time in her life, she was surprised to discover that she cared less and less what everyone else thought.

"I hope you were able to relax at Sada's."

Nodding her head, a thought came to her. The night before when she had been seated at Molly's kitchen table, she desperately wanted to talk to someone she trusted about what was happening in her life. Molly was the wrong choice. As kind as they'd always been to her, none of her sisters-in-law were the right person either. She wanted to speak to someone that she trusted, someone that she could rely on to give her sound advice. Someone like Kingsley. It was time to lay it all on the table. Or, at least, everything she could that wouldn't end in someone she cared about ending up in Azkaban.

"I'm afraid that I enjoyed staying there a little too much."

His handsome face split into a wide grin.

"Hard to come back to the real world then?"

"Very."

She sighed, unsure really where to begin. Most of her life she had been careful with who she confided in and what she revealed. Even with Ron and Harry she held herself back. Sometimes, especially when they were all still in school together, she didn't want to share her thoughts and fears because she got the impression that she annoyed them or that they didn't really care. Years of feeling like no one actually wanted to hear her speak about herself made it so she still felt awkward turning even the slightest bit of any discussion in her direction.

"I'm not sure that I want to stay, Kingsley."

"In the Ministry? Or is it more than that?"

"I've… well, if I must be perfectly honest, I've met someone."

His smile didn't dim. Truly it was criminal that one man could be so attractive. Hermione had always been jealous of the people who were just naturally beautiful. She had to put a great deal of effort into her appearance to be half as attractive. Usually it wasn't worth the effort. Perhaps that had been one of the problems that compounded her difficulties with Ron. The less she seemed to care how she looked, the more frustrated he would get with her. He'd always been attracted to the women who spent too much time making themselves look like someone they weren't. He should've known what he was getting into when they married. She had no desire to look like one of the women on the cover of Witch Weekly.

"And is this someone that I know?"

Of course she couldn't tell him the truth. If she admitted that he spent the earliest years he was an auror in the Ministry searching for and fighting wizards like Rodolphus, they would both be in trouble. Kingsley might have considered her a friend, but he wasn't about to shirk his duties. Given the opportunity to catch a Death Eater, he would do it without hesitation.

"No, you've never met him."

"Then how can I be sure that he's worthy of you?"

She rolled her eyes dramatically and sighed while he laughed. Part of their friendship usually consisted of him teasing her in some goodnatured way. It was always easy with him. She wished she had more friends like Kingsley. Maybe she wouldn't be in such a rush to throw her life away and start over if she did.

"You'll just have to trust me."

Kingsley grew suddenly serious. No more traces of teasing were left on his face. Hermione was glad. She wanted his advice.

"Are you really considering walking away from your life here to spend it with a man you've only just met?"

"I've already rejected him twice because I'm afraid that our worlds shouldn't mix. But, even when I've pushed him away thinking that it's best for both of us, all I want to do is run back to him and beg his forgiveness. It's madness."

"All love is madness to a certain degree."

It was the first time she really considered that she might be in love with Rodolphus Lestrange. Was it even possible to fall in love so quickly? With Ron, she'd been his friend for years. The love had grown gradually just as it had also dissipated. Surely she hadn't known Rodolphus long enough to think of him so seriously. She was only considering what it might be like to think about creating a future with him. Hermione covered her face with her hands. She was frustrated with her inability to think clearly about the wizard. Why was she so irrational when it came to Rodolphus? She should have turned him in the moment she knew who he was. Was it fair to either of them to even fantasize about a future? Was she willing to give up everything just for the possibility of love?

"It's very complicated, Kingsley. I'm not even sure how to explain it properly."

"There's no need. I think I understand. This is a decision that all Muggle-borns inevitably must make. Do you try to integrate both worlds in some sort of slipshod fashion? Or do you make a decision to walk away from one world entirely?"

Confused at first, it became clear. Of course Kingsley wouldn't assume that she was talking about loving a former Death Eater. He believed that the man she met while she was on her holiday was a Muggle. It made sense. Despite what some members of their society might have everyone else believe, it wasn't always a seamless process for a witch or wizard to marry a Muggle. She thought about all of the funny stories Seamus Finnegan used to tell about his parents' courtship and marriage. His Muggle father was still learning how to cope with his daily interactions with the magical world. He appeared to take everything in stride, but she knew it hadn't been an easy transition for anyone.

More than a few times she considered turning her back on the magical world to return to her Muggle roots. It seemed easier. No one knew her in her old world. She wasn't a war heroine whose best friend was the Chosen One. The promise of the anonymity was intoxicating. Meeting a man who knew nothing about her past was a thrilling prospect. To simply be herself without fear that she was being used by a social climber sounded amazing.

"You just met this man, Hermione, but do you think you could be happy with him? If you stopped overthinking it and allowed yourself to be happy that is?"

She didn't have to think about her answer. Almost immediately she nodded her head. She had always been her own worst enemy. Overthinking and overanalyzing and worrying rarely worked out in her best interest. It was why she kicked Rodolphus out of her bed that morning a week earlier. Fear was more powerful than hope. But only if she allowed it to be.

"Then you owe it to yourself to find out if there's a future worth having there."

Kingsley rose from the chair. In only a couple of strides of his legs he was behind her desk. He leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

"Take all of the time you need, Hermione. It's evident you're not ready to come back to work here. I'm afraid you might never be ready to be back here."

There was no sense in arguing with the truth. From the moment she stepped into the Atrium that morning, she was ready to turn around and run back outside. What joy she once felt working tirelessly in her causes for equal rights for house-elves and werewolves existed no longer. Maybe eventually she could rekindle the passion she once had, but everything was different. She was restless, ready to make a change. Imagining decades of the same day over and over brought on a crushing sadness she couldn't shake.

"Think about it. Whatever decision you make, I will support. Just so long as you're certain."

Hermione stood up to embrace the Minister. For the first time in the miserable day, she felt the weight of her future lift ever so slightly off her shoulders. She was grateful that they had the opportunity to talk. As she watched him leave her office, she made a decision.

Mondays always felt just like another other day to Rodolphus. Without a proper job, one day was pretty much exactly like the next. Many times throughout the years he was on the run he had trouble remembering what day it was. Truthfully, it never really mattered.

On the day Hermione returned to the Ministry for her first day back to work after her emotional breakdown, he thought of nothing else but how she was faring. He was worried. Not that she would arrive at her old job and decide to turn him in, though that was certainly a valid concern. He was more worried about how she was doing, how she was being treated by everyone else. Was she happy? Relieved to be back in a familiar setting? Or anxious to leave for another adventure?

He was concerned that her husband was free to bother her now that she was no longer being protected by her neighbor's dog. With more witnesses and them both being reluctant to create a public scene, was he bothering her? Begging her to rethink her decision to leave? While Rodolphus didn't think she would fall for that, he had been wrong before. It was always possible that time away from her husband showed her what she would miss without him in her life. For some wives, that would be enough to forgive their remorseful spouse.

Sada's appalling behavior the previous day also upset him. The very idea that bookmakers were accepting bets about Hermione's impending divorce was disgusting. Was she aware of what was happening? How many people were approaching her that day to see if they could get some information that no one else had just to make a few galleons? He had half a mind to risk being caught just to go down to Knockturn Alley and make a few wizards with questionable moral standards wish they'd never been born.

In an effort to keep his mind occupied, he made sure that all of his possessions were packed again. He had had so much practice over the past few weeks that it hadn't taken him long. Sitting in his rented cottage with everything he owned packed up neatly in a single, small, magically-enlarged box was a bit sad. Millie didn't like the changes. Every opportunity she had to let him know so, she did.

He wasn't sure if he was going to make it to the end of the week before he had to leave. Knowing that Hermione was gone, he could barely stomach the place any longer. Everything he could see or touch simply reminded him of her. Remaining would only bring him even more agony. He already made sure that Sada was paid through the end of the week. Whenever he wished, he could just step outside and leave.

Starting over was a terrifying prospect. It wasn't that long ago that he was wandering around the country trying to figure out what he was going to do next. He had no allies he could rely on. The only family member he had was locked up in Azkaban. It had taken him time to settle in to Sada's cottage. Always afraid that he was on the verge of getting caught, he wasn't able to relax at first. Any connections that he might have been able to rely on outside of the country were unreliable. He would be on his own. But, it was for the best. No one deserved to be dragged into danger with an association with him.

He sat at the kitchen table with a small stack of correspondence that had been waiting for him down in the village. Since the purchase of the Daily Prophet, he was shocked to discover how much of his attention was required to run the damn thing. His solicitor forwarded any messages he received through the Muggle post. The wizard was willing to ignore anything his clients did so long as his retainer was paid promptly every month. Finding one with scruples was impossible when he was a fugitive.

Most of the messages were requests from the editor to be allowed to include articles about Hermione in their paper again. His editor was adamant that they were missing out on some very important stories because of his unusual ban. Rodolphus politely, but firmly, responded that his orders on the matter were to be followed without question. He was free to continue to send articles for approval, of course. Not that Rodolphus had any intention of ever approving any of them. That, however, was not something that he would ever openly admit to.

He was in the midst of scrawling out a response to another concern of the editor that they should begin printing a weekly column about traveling in wizarding vacation destinations to keep up with their competitors when he heard the knock at the door. Millie, awake after her latest fit of whining made her sleepy, hopped off the sofa. She barked at their unexpected visitor through the closed door. Her tail began to wag at a furious pace. Rodolphus found her behavior to be odd. Usually, she didn't care when anyone came to visit. It was such a rare occasion that she didn't know what to do.

A second knock, more insistent than the first, was the encouragement he needed to stand to his feet. He hadn't the foggiest idea who it could be. Perhaps Sada was there again to inform him that a new tenant was to be expected. Or maybe she hoped that he would be a bit more amenable to her impertinent questions. Dealing with the witch wasn't high on his list of activities that he wished to complete that day. Taking his time to cross the floor to the front door, he pulled it open, never dreaming who he would find.

"I don't ever want to go back to the Ministry again."

Still completely in shock that the witch he desired more than any other was standing only centimeters away, Rodolphus stared at her for longer than was polite. When they said their uncomfortable goodbyes the day before he never expected to see her again. There was no reason for her to return. Clearing his throat and attempting to harness some measure of control over his racing heart, he stepped back in a silent invitation for her to step inside out of the cold.

"What did you say?"

"I never, ever want to go back to the Ministry again."

"Was it that terrible?"

She was on the verge of tears. He wished that he had the right to wrap his arms around her and offer her comfort. That wouldn't be wise. Each of them had already proven that they couldn't be trusted to think rationally around the other.

"So much worse."

"What happened?"

A desire to rush off to the Ministry to crush whomever dared to hurt his witch welled up inside of him. Damn Azkaban! He would stop at nothing to inflict pain on those responsible.

"I realized that I don't want that life anymore. It was… suffocating."

He could understand that feeling. Even before he was locked away in Azkaban for the rest of his natural life, he understood what it felt like to be living a life that was slowly choking the life out of him. Being married to Bellatrix was an absolute nightmare starting in their second year of marriage. Knowing that he would never be able to divorce the woman made it all so much worse. All he could imagine was a lifetime stretching out before him of misery and agony. Was it any wonder that he'd allowed himself to be thrown into Azkaban without requesting any leniency? There was nothing left for him.

"What will you do now?"

Hermione couldn't stand still. Once she was inside his cottage and Millie was properly greeted with a scratch behind her ears, she started pacing around the small space. Rodolphus longed to reach out to grab her, reassure her, but he didn't. The temptation to never let her go was too strong. If she was only there for a friendly ear, he was not going to complicate matters.

"I don't… I don't really know."

She stopped pacing to collapse onto the sofa with a deep sigh. He kept a safe distance by sitting in his chair.

"I filed for divorce."

Her confession was soft, hardly audible. She stared at his face, seeking something he wasn't sure of.

"Before I left, I filed the proper paperwork. I'll be a single woman again in just a few weeks."

"And are you… sad about that?"

"No. It was the right thing to do. Should've done it a long time ago."

There was very little to celebrate in a failed marriage. Rodolphus heard of there being relief at a divorce, but even when the two made little sense together and they were unhappy, there was still sadness and grief that came with the dissolution of marriage. It wasn't something that was easily recovered from. Likely, she would spend the rest of her life feeling at least a tiny measure of sorrow that it hadn't worked out. It was human nature to regret the past.

"My friend Harry tried to talk me out of it."

She wiped at her eyes. Needing to feel that he was doing something helpful, Rodolphus leaned over to hand her a clean handkerchief. Seeing her cry tore at his heart. The Chosen One or not, part of him wanted to seek out Harry Potter and finish what the Dark Lord was incapable of completing.

"One of the women I attacked called out for the aurors when I went back to her office. Even after I apologized for what happened, she refused to help me. Harry and a couple of other aurors showed up. When I told him why I was there and how I didn't want to cause any trouble, he just asked me if I was sure that I wanted to get a divorce. He told me that Ron was sorry and wanted to try to make it work. Why wouldn't I give him the chance?"

Tears rolled down her cheeks. Unable to sit still while she cried, Rodolphus ignored all of the warnings shouting in his head. He sat down next to her on the sofa, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and tried to remember how to breathe when she laid her head against him. It felt so right with her in his arms.

"I'm not sure that Harry will ever forgive me. He's always taken Ron's side. Always. I was only ever his best friend when Ron wouldn't speak to him. The backup, if you will."

"If he won't forgive you for doing what you believe is best for you, he's not really your friend. He will be no great loss."

Rodolphus was never good at comforting upset women. There had been very few opportunities to practice in his past. Bellatrix certainly never needed him. At least not for long. He hoped that he wasn't making it all worse by telling her what he believed. Potter might have been a good friend in the past, but if he wasn't willing to recognize how miserable Hermione was and actually encourage her to stay miserable, he didn't think even the Boy-Who-Lived deserved to have her in his life for another moment.

"I was wrong to throw you out."

Whatever he expected her to say after insulting one of her best friends certainly wasn't that. Caught off-guard, he wasn't sure what to say. She gently pushed away from his chest to get a better look into his face. Her hand remained just above his rapidly beating heart.

"I was scared. I didn't want to get hurt again. I would never be able to introduce you to my friends or have anything close to a normal life with you. I was afraid to get attached, to dream up a fantasy that would never be real. There's no future for us together…"

"No, there's not."

He sighed, all hope that they could ever get past the obstacles that kept them apart shattered. Nothing she said was wrong.

"…in this country."

Just as quickly as the hope disappeared, it reappeared. Rodolphus stared into her brown eyes, desperate for some kind of assurance that he hadn't misheard her words. A hint of a smile quirked at the corner of the lips he longed to kiss. Could she really be suggesting what he hoped she was suggesting? He needed confirmation before his heart burst with the unrealistic hope.

"What are you saying, Hermione?"

"I resigned from my job today too. Everything I own is in a bag just outside your door. I have nothing keeping me here any longer. No family, no friends. Let's run away together."

A kiss was his answer to her suggestion. She eagerly responded. Suddenly, starting over in a new country didn't seem so terrifying. He wasn't naïve enough to believe that they wouldn't have moments of difficulty up ahead of them. No relationship would ever be perfect. Especially not with their histories. But, he was excited to try. The solution to their problems and the lack of a travel columnist for the newspaper he bought because of her became clear. Breaking their kiss to catch their breaths, he smiled.

"How would you like a new job that will allow you to travel all around the world staying in the finest resorts?"

"With you?"

He was only able to nod his head once before she kissed him again, effectively sealing the deal to become his newest columnist and so much more. Maybe eventually enough time would pass and they would come to discover that they weren't right for each other or that they couldn't make each other happy. Until that time came, if that time came, Rodolphus was determined that they were going to enjoy every single moment together.

The End.