Author note: Just a quickie to let everyone know I'm not dead yet. This is The Trade.

It was a few years after the war, after the girls graduation from Hogwarts and a few weeks after Harry graduated from the Auror academy. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had decided to take a week off and go camping in the United States.

The campsite was not far from a gently flowing stream deep in the woods of West Virginia. Harry and Ron were sitting beside the stream drinking beers and talking.

Ron fell silent as he drank from the can. Finally he said, "Harry how about we trade girlfriends."

Harry paused with the can almost to his lips then slowly looked at Ron who was staring at the water. "Excuse me?"

"Let's trade girlfriends." Ron repeated himself nodding to no one in general.

"Dude you do remember I'm dating your sister right?" Harry pointed out.

Ron nodded, "Yeah. I know."

"You're drunk Ron. Let's just forget about this."

"No, I'm serious man. You and Hermione get along a lot better then me and her do. I'm sick of getting nagged all the time. I might as well move back home and have mum nag at me." Ron grumped. "At least there I can eat the food."

Harry laughed, "And you think Ginny'll not nag you as much?"

"Nah. She's a Weasley. She understands me." Ron stated.

"You are serious? This isn't some kind of sick joke." Harry demanded.

"Yeah I'm serious. I'm done with Hermione. I can't take it anymore. I'm gonna break up with her when we get back no matter what."

"Okay so why don't you just wait until we get back and find someone else. Or there was that cute girl at the camp store you know." Harry pointed out.

"She was a muggle. I don't want a muggle. I want a witch. A muggle can't understand the kind of lifestyle and traditions of a magical household. And Hermione keeps trying to destroy them. Saying its not modern, its not the way it should be. Stop waving your wand around to do everything. She doesn't even want a house elf. Says its slavery. No matter that it would kill them if they couldn't serve." Ron argued.

Harry picked up his fishing pole and said, "I'm not going to tell Ginny or Hermione this and I suggest you don't either. Not unless you want to be hexed into next week."

Ron didn't respond with anything except a noncommittal grunt.

…...

While Harry and Ron had gone fishing Hermione and Ginny were sitting in front of the tent. Hermione was under an awning reading a book while Ginny was relaxing in a hammock not far away.

"Hermione. Can I ask you something. Something really personal?" Ginny asked from the cocoon of the hammock.

Hermione put down her book saying, "I suppose so. What do you want to know?"

"Do you really love Ron?" Ginny asked sitting up so that she could look at Hermione.

Hermione sat straighter as she considered how she would reply to Ginny. Her initial feeling had been to say that yes she loved him only she knew she couldn't say that with any honesty. Not any more. She had been infatuated with him back before the war, only afterwards things had changed. Especially after going to Australia to recover her parents.

"You're having to think about it." Ginny pointed out.

"Okay. Things are complicated right now. I'm not entirely sure how I feel." Hermione admitted.

Ginny nodded, "I know what you mean. I thought being with Harry was the best and most important thing I could do, only I'm not sure now."

Hermione looked surprised, "Are you saying you don't love Harry anymore?"

Ginny smiled, "No I do love him. But not the same way I thought I would, or did. I wanted him. I wanted him so badly I thought I was going to explode if I didn't get to be with him. Only now. Its kinda not what I really want I think."

Hermione thought getting Ginny to talk about what she meant would distract from having to think about her and Ron. "What do you mean Ginny? It looks like you and harry have a wonderful life together."

"I know it looks like it. But he's the chosen one. The Hero who slew Voldemort. We can't go anywhere in the magical world without people recognizing him. We went to Paris on his last break from the Academy and people recognized him." She sighed. "He suggested we start going into muggle parts of the cities but that's so boring and strange. I'm not comfortable out there either. So many people and I can't use magic. Have to keep my wand hidden. I really don't like it."

"The muggle world isn't really that bad Ginny." Hermione tried to comfort the red head.

"You're used to it. You grew up in that world. I grew up around magic and not having to hide it." Ginny got out of the hammock to sit in front of Hermione on the ground. "Like flying. The only reason I tried out for the harpies was because I love to fly. Its the only way I can keep my mind from thinking about the war, about what the Carrows did to me, about what Voldemort did while inside me." She sounded like she was trying not to cry.

"Oh. Well. I'm sorry Ginny. I didn't know. Have you told Harry?"

Ginny nodded, "I've tried to talk to him about some of it but he just doesn't seem to understand. And there are things I can't tell him about. Things I'm not ready to share."

"Well maybe if you tried going to a therapist." Hermione suggested.

Ginny shrugged, "I've been to a mind-healer. They could only do so much."

"No I meant a therapist. A counselor." Hermione corrected.

"A Muggle? Like I could tell them about being crucioed until I lost control over my bladder and bowels. Like I could explain to them the horror of seeing and feeling your own body do things while the spirit in control laughs at you. They'd lock me away." She scowled.

Hermione started to say something then shut her mouth. Ginny had a point, that was one reason she had not suggested couples counseling to Ron. "Okay. I see your point but maybe talking to harry would help."

"I doubt it. We want different things it turns out." Ginny said drawing her knees to her chin.

"Oh like what?" Hermione asked.

"I want to have babies and a place in the country with a garden and we can fly and there isn't the sound of engines and horns honking and cars moving around all of the time. I want to be able to feel comfortable using magic in front of people. There's this really nice place in Hogsmeade I wanted harry to look at but he says he doesn't want to move out of London. He likes the city and the people" Ginny said all of it in a rush as if she had been holding it in. "I think we're going to break up."

Hermione bit her lip, "Well if that's how you feel. I'll be your friend and do what I can."

Ginny smiled weakly, "Thanks Hermione. I appreciate it."

Hermione responded with her own uncertain smile, "I'm glad."

…...

The four of them had a quiet dinner as Harry was the one that tried to talk to everyone but no one gave more than a few words in answer to anything he said.

"Okay. Well I know we said we wanted to get away and have some peace and quiet but this is too much." Harry chuckled.

"Sorry. I just have a lot on my mind." Hermione said.

"Yeah. Me too." Ginny agreed.

"Bugger this." Run huffed, "Hermione I want to break up."

Hermione looked at him in surprise, "Why?" Was all she asked to Harry's surprise.

"Cause I can't stand it with you. I thought I liked you and that we could work things out but no. You want a career and to get rid of traditions I value a lot. I want a family and to be a wizard not a muggle. I grew up in a wizarding household. I want a magical household." He said firmly.

Hermione nodded, "Oh. Okay. I can understand. I've not been feeling very satisfied with our relationship either."

Harry looked back and forth between the two of them in surprise as he had expected there to be a lot more drama.

Ron looked at Hermione in confusion, "So you don't wanna fight me about this?"

Hermione shook her head, "No. You're right. You and I want different things out of life. We want to have a different life altogether. I have several years before I want to start having children and you wanted us to already start. I don't see how we could come to any compromise because these are all non-negotiable aspects."

Ron leaned back, "Oh. So how do you want to split the stuff up?"

"Anything you bought you can keep, anything you brought with you is yours of course. We can figure out a timeline for your moving out."

"There's this nice house in Hogsmeade you could look into buying. I'd be willing to help you afford it." Ginny said speaking up.

"Why would you want to help?" Ron asked in annoyance.

"Because I'd like to maybe move in with you." Ginny said quietly.

"Why do you want to move in with him?" Harry asked suddenly wondering what was going on.

"Because I don't want to live in London harry. I want to live in the country. I've told you this. I want someplace to let my kids be magical without worrying that they break some muggle's fancy car, Or that they get in trouble with the Ministry for performing magic in front of some muggle." Ginny gushed earnestly.

Harry worked his mouth a few times before saying, "Oh. Does this mean."

Ginny took a deep shuddering sigh before saying, "Yes. I want to break up with you too. I'm sorry Harry. I still want to be friends but I don't want to be the wife of an Auror. I don't want to worry that you won't walk in through that door. That two of your companions will show up instead, that they'll tell me you're never coming home again. I want a safe stable life. That's what we fought for wasn't it? I'm done fighting. I don;t want to fight ever again." She said as tears streamed down her face.

Harry took a deep breath as he slumped at the table, "Yeah. It is."
"Are you mad at me?" Ginny asked worriedly.

Harry shook his head, "No. I. I'm not mad. I'm just a bit hurt but if its that important to you then I'll let you go."

Ginny smiled nervously, "We can still be friends right? All of us?"

Harry gave a half hearted grin, "Yeah once I get my feet back under me."
Ron chuckled, "Well Hermione is available. Why don't you two start dating now."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other considering things. Ginny said, "I agree Harry. You guys have always been there for each other. I used to be kinda jealous of how close you two are."

Harry shrugged, "So, well. I guess since these two are pushing for us to get together we might give it a try eh?"

Hermione smiled crookedly before nodding, "I wouldn't be opposed to it I suppose."

"One thing though. I am never going camping again. Every time I do all hell breaks loose." He laughed while the others shook their heads chuckling.

Review Responses:

SMB: Lol. I shall take it under advisement.

Freddie Rindklip: You are very welcome.

Dennisud: Chapter 81 may be expanded at some point. Chapter 77 I will have to think about what an appropriate in character reaction to that would be. Yes Luna is neat. I shall definitely ensure she returns.