Hermione's alarm went off buzzing loudly piercing right through her pounding skull. She quickly slammed it in order to dismiss it. Hermione got up slowly holding her head due to too much wine, the figure of Matt lay under the covers clearly still passed out. She got up slowly in order to not wake him she didn't want to deal with him this morning. She slipped into the shower taking a pain killer hoping the pain would ease by the time she got to work. Hermione washed away everything from last night, having Matt over turned out to be a horrible idea it just made her realize how alone she really was. He in fact did have a girlfriend that Hermione clearly disregarded yet again last night and she now felt absolutely terrible about it. Hermione wasn't that girl, or was she? This was the third time Matt had a girlfriend and she slept with anyway so does that make her that girl?
Hermione simply shook her head of these thoughts; she knew it was her own fault she made herself into this girl. Right after Harry and Ginny's wedding Matt and Hermione had been regularly seeing each other almost every night, making Hermione more comfortable and for a slight moment having the hope that this could grow into something more. But as soon as she brought it up Matt made it very clear that nothing beyond sex would come out of their arrangement, Hermione was slightly hurt but she knew he was too good to be true. She didn't talk to him for a while after that but once coming to terms with simply regular sex with a hot ex Qudditch player she began calling him again. For almost a year now they had been each other's steady booty call, though she knew that she wasn't Matt's only one she didn't really care as long as he kept coming back that was all she needed. But now she thought maybe this isn't what she wanted that maybe she was past this uncommitted stage and she was finally ready for something more serious.
She started at herself in the mirror her wet hair sticking to her face and she realized the past year was wasted on some asshole that didn't even deserve a second of her time. Sure maybe she did need that time with an asshole to help her heal but now Hermione was officially putting an end to this stage of her life. The pathetic wallowing feeling sorry for herself every day stage would now end and instead she would take charge of her life again be the Hermione she used to be strong confident and driven. Hermione dried her curls in a nice bouncy way like she used to, she put a little make up on to brighten up her face, she looked through her closet finding her favorite red work skirt pairing it with a white button down shirt and black blazer. She was feeling good, once she was ready for work she got herself a cup of coffee leaning in the doorway as she stared at the lump in her sheets, she wasn't sure exactly what she wanted to do but she wanted it to be memorable.
She walked over to bed ripping the sheets right off of him, causing him to wake suddenly.
"What the fuck Hermione" Matt yelled looking at her through squinted eyes.
"Get up assshole, and get the fuck out" Hermione stated giving him a firm look. He looked at her perplexed he wasn't used to Hermione treating him like this usually he was the one to behave like this.
"What crawled up your ass? Get your period this morning or something?" Matt said rudely, Hermione simply mock laughed at him.
"Funny no actually I'm just sick of you treating me like shit all the time" Hermione said firmly, Matt looked at her blankly.
"You called me" Matt said Hermione nodded.
"Yes I know, but I won't be calling anymore nor will I be coming over anymore" Hermione stated throwing him his clothes.
"Now get the fuck out of my life" Hermione demanded pointing to the door, though Matt seem unphased by her demands Hermione knew it was only a matter of time before he flooed her one lonely night begging for her company and she couldn't wait to refuse. Hermione finished off her coffee before heading off to work. Once she was there Leia had immediately noticed that Hermione was looking better than usual.
"Hey girl you look great!" Leia said elbowing her, Hermione smiled.
"Thanks I had a sort of revelation this morning" Hermione said with a small smile.
"Yeah? About what?" Leia asked
"Well…my pathetic life" Hermione said bluntly
"Oh honey don't say that" Leia said Hermione shook her head.
"No listen it's no secret since me and Ron broke up I haven't been the same. I've been dragging my feet over this break up for two years now. I whored myself out at bars for the first four months after we broke up, then I just went into a straight depression till I found Matt which I thought was good for me but I just realized was probably one of the worst things for me because he constantly tore me down, made me feel like shit unless I was climaxing! He gave me false hope, he made me into this girl that dishonored commitment and that's not me Leia we both know that!" Hermione spewed Leia looked at her in shock.
"I mean, I guess you're right but everyone goes through a bad break up. Where is all this coming from anyway?" Leia asked still trying to put together the pieces.
"Well I got drunk last night with full intentions of flooing Matt, which I did, we did our usual sex thing and I woke up this morning realizing I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to be that girl in her late twenties that still has a booty call with no signs of a real relationship. I took behavior of a result of a bad break up and turned it into who I am, and I'm done being this stupid depressing sluttly horrible version of myself. I want the old Hermione back, the Hermione who I really am" Hermione said looking at Leia with serious look knowing that it sure sounded easy now but she would help along the way. Leia's face broke out into a smile. "I'm glad, we want her back" Leia said giving Hermione a hug.
Ron lay in bed the sun flooding his bedroom, today was his day off thankfully. He stretched taking advantage of having the bed too himself, he assumed Taylor had made her way off to work already. He looked over at the time it was almost ten, he couldn't believe he slept in that late. He made his way to the kitchen his dog charging him as soon as he came out of the bed room.
"Hey boy!" Ron said giving his dog a rub; he stared to make some coffee grabbing a mug from the top shelf. He place it on the counter taking a better look at it, it was a royal blue with a gold hand painted leaf on the front with a slight crack down the side. It had been Hermione's mug, her favorite one to be exact. Since their break up had been so abrupt and he moved away shortly after he still had some of her stuff and she still had some of his. Though it had been two years now he couldn't get himself to throw any of it away, he even still had an old shirt of hers she always wore when she slept over. He knew it was pathetic and stupid but he didn't care. He poured his coffee into the mug, it was funny before he dated Hermione he hated coffee and now he couldn't function without it.
On the kitchen table lay a letter addressed to Ron and the Daily Prophet which he had sent here one a week just see what was going on back home. He took his letter and the prophet and went on to the deck calling Tucker to come out and follow him. He had made sure he trained him very well so he barley needed to be on a leash anymore. He picked up the letter; it was from his sister he wondered what was new with her. He saw his family mostly just on holidays and wrote to them about once a month or so. He tore open the letter and began to red,
Hey Ron I hope all is well, just checking up on you making sure you're still alive out there in the Ireland country side. Anyway we're having a big family dinner this weekend everyone is coming in for that I strongly urge you to come too. In other words if you don't show up I will personally come to Ireland and kick your ass. Can't wait to see you Sunday, oh and Harry says hi he also can't wait to see you either! And Mum says she misses you dearly! We all do love ya – Ginny.
Ron laughed at his sister threats though she was probably dead serious, he knew that he couldn't blow off a family dinner that everyone was coming too. Ron then picked up the newspaper scanning threw the news, till he got to what interested him the most the sports section. He read up on all the quidditch news, and then flipped through the rest of the paper not usually one to read to tabloids but one headline caught his attention. "Matt Smith Former Seeker Now Engaged!" Ron ripped it open going to the page which the article was on, this was the man Hermione had been with at Harry and Ginny's wedding and for all knew she was still with. He scanned the article looking for a name praying it wasn't Hermione's, him and his fiancé Mary Pennington…Ron let out a breath of relief. He knew he shouldn't care that he simply should wish Hermione the best and if it was marrying that douchebag will good riddance. But luckily it wasn't. He picked up his coffee cup, looking at the mug rubbing his finger across the crack. He remembered the day Hermione broke this like it was yesterday.
Hermione wasn't anything without her coffee, and today she needed it more than ever. She had over slept due to a fight with Ron last night leading her to forget to set her alarm and now she was scrambling to get ready. She pulled her hair into a bun as she started the coffee pot, she finished buttoning up her shirt tucking it into her skirt as she waited. She tapped her hand impatiently waiting for the coffee to be done. She grabbed her favorite mug from the shelf putting it on the edge of the counter; once her coffee was done she spun around quickly to pour it knocking into the mug causing it to fall to floor.
"Fuck!" Hermione exclaimed picking up the mug and studying it there was no doubt there was now a large crack down the front. She tired filling the cup still but it simply leaked out the crack. She looked up at the time and she was officially late.
"Uh shit shit shit!" Hermione exclaimed Ron poked his head out from the bathroom upon hearing Hermione's curses.
"Everything ok?" Ron asked
"I'm late and I broke my favorite mug!" Hermione yelled in haste before going out the door.
After a long grueling day Hermione was happy to be home, she walked in plopping herself on the couch letting out a deep sigh. Her thoughts went back to this morning when she broke her mug she looked into the kitchen to see if it was still there but it wasn't. She hoped Ron didn't throw it away, as soon as she was about it got up to question Ron he came out from the bedroom.
"Oh I didn't hear you come in" Ron said
"Wait hold on" Ron said holding up his hand going back in the bedroom and coming back out with the mug in hand. The crack with filled it and fixed he walked over and handed it to her.
"Listen I'm sorry about last night and here's your mug good as new" Ron said with a small smile giving her the mug, Hermione took it in her hands as a smile emerged across her face.
"Thank you" she said softly it was things like this that made Hermione fall in love with Ron even more. She pulled him into a tender kiss,
"I'm sorry too for overreacting last night" Hermione said leaning her forehead against his as he wrapped his hands around her waist.
"Want me to make you some tea?" Ron asked Hermione's smile grew wider and she handed him her mug.
"Yes please" she answered with a smile.
Ron sat there with a smile on his face, not all things brought back such fond memories between him and Hermione. There was a lot of bad, but none the less a lot of good. Ron looked out onto his yard that was covered with leaves the lake touching the edge of yard, his old rickety dock creaking in the wind. He loved just relaxing out here, anytime of year it was just simply perfect. He was looking forward to his day off to have some time to himself to unwind. He closed his eyes for a brief moment until he heard a voice.
"Hey babe!" Taylor said coming out the back door, Ron's face dropped slightly until he forced it into a smile again.
"Hey hun I thought you were at work?" Ron questioned
"Well I may have taken the day off to spend it with you" Taylor said happily, most days Ron would be thrilled but today he just wanted to be alone.
"Oh well…that's great" Ron said trying not to sound disappointed but Taylor didn't buy it.
"What's wrong?" she said looking at him with question. Ron took a deep breath,
"I just wanted some alone time is all" Ron said honestly Taylor drew in a breath and nodded. Taylor was tough woman; she never made a fuss over things that weren't necessary. Ron liked that about her.
"That's fine I'll just go back to my place" Taylor said trying not to sound disappointed even though recently she had spent most of her days at Ron's place she still had her own place, which Ron was grateful for. He wasn't ready for something as serious as full on living with someone again. Taylor and Ron had only been dating for five months so he didn't really feel any pressure that they needed to live together anyway and if Taylor felt otherwise she would tell him. She was a very open and honest person, there was no guessing with her if she had something to say there was no doubt she was going to say it.
"Thanks babe" Ron said with a smile, she smiled back
"Okay I'll see you later?" Taylor asked hopefully and Ron nodded she gave him a quick kiss on the lips before letting herself out. Ron looked back out on the lake, thinking about the letter he had received from Ginny he was excited to see the family again it's been quite some time now considering the summer isn't full of any major holidays. The thought had briefly crossed his mind about bringing Taylor but as quickly as it came it left. He just didn't feel ready yet, his family didn't even know he had girlfriend mostly because he didn't know how long it was going to last. Sure Taylor was great there was no doubt there, but so was no Hermione.
A/N Alright Chapter three, tell me what you think! I will be telling the story in the past and present the past will reveal the kind of relationship Ron and Hermione had and what led up to their break up.