It was the year 2026 and Hermione Granger stood in front of her mirror. She was examining herself fresh from the shower and wondering where to go with her life. She was 47 years old and tired. Tired of her husband Ron, tired of her role in the Ministry. Being Minister for Magic was not as rewarding as it used to be, especially as the magical world was still just as traditional and secretive as ever, and the muggle world had gone crazy scaring magicals even more than usual.

Because she was tired, bored and felt like her life was in a repetitive cycle she had come up with an impulsive idea. She would go out into muggle London and visit a club. She would never be recognized or known and have some fun. She wouldn't actually have sex with anyone but she would flirt and have a few drinks and relieve some boredom. Nothing more than that. Although she would take the prophylactic potion just in case something did happen.

She felt she looked pretty good for being 47, even if magicals did age slower than muggles. Her breasts were only slightly less firm than they had been in her youth, she had no gray in her brown hair and only the slightest of wrinkles in the corners of her eyes.

Looking further south she did have a slight belly and her hips and thighs were softer and rounder from the sitting she did at the office. Otherwise she looked rather good for having given birth to two children, at least in her own opinion. She had never actually discussed her appearance with her friends, not out of vanity but more in that she never knew how to broach the subject.

She pulled her knickers on and then the black dress she had picked up on a whim. It fit her very tightly and came to her mid thigh which made her a little bit nervous then laughed. She had faced the darkest death eaters when she was a teenager and now she was getting nervous over a short skirt?

Pulling her shoes on she picked up her purse and looked around the apartment she lived in now. Sighing she left the place and making sure she wasn't observed she apparated to just outside the club. Walking up to the doorman she flashed her muggle ID and he raised his eyebrow at her. So she gave him a smile and a wandless confundus causing him to smile stupidly back and wave her inside. She was not in the mood to deal with things.

Stepping inside the club she paused as she tried to let her eyes adjust. It was dark, it was loud and it was annoying. She had no idea what the alleged music was supposed to be and the way the people were writhing and gyrating made her sensibilities stagger briefly so she turned and went to the bar.

Ordering a cocktail she reflected on how much the muggle world had changed over the last several years. One reason she had been spending more and more time in the magical world. She was beginning to understand why the magical world tried to hide from the muggles as the gulf of misunderstanding seemed to only ever grow wider. As it seemed like the muggles were competing to see how stupid and crazy they could get.

Not that magicals were any better. Due to how much longer magicals lived on average they the society did not change much, if at all, unless it changed drastically and suddenly. The war had done a great deal to destroy the blood-purity culture but it had done nothing to close the magical versus muggle rift. Nothing she did seemed to have any effect on it either. If anything some nations were withdrawing from their muggle populace even more quickly than before.

She felt someone sit beside her interrupting her thoughts, turning to brush them off she found Harry Potter sitting staring at her with a shy grin. She blinked several times as he ordered a drink as well.

"Funny meeting you here." He said with a chuckle.

"I could say the same." She replied.

"SO uh. Any particular reason you're here?" He asked with a crooked smile.

"I was going to try and maybe. I dunno." Hermione confessed. She finished her cocktail quickly. Being alone with Harry right now somehow felt both exciting and shameful. Especially dressed in as little as she was.

"Yeah me too." He said nervously fiddling with his drink.

"So uh. You know this place is not as fun as I was thinking it might be. You want to go someplace else?" She asked quickly.

Harry quickly downed his drink and nodded. Throwing some bills on the bar for his and her drinks, plus a healthy tip, he held his arm out for her.

She took it with a bit of a thrill as they left. She had been around Harry for the last several years at the Ministry, they had even been alone together multiple times in one office or another. Of course he was in uniform and she was wearing a professional suit so maybe that was it.

Once outside Hermione sighed causing her bosom to shift and move in the dress enticingly, at least Harry certainly seemed to notice. "So where do you want to go? he asked.

"I'm not sure. I don't think anywhere in the magical world would be a very good idea." she replied.

"Well I do have an idea. If you don't want to go back to my place or yours." He suggested with an odd tone in his voice.

Hermione felt a surge go through her abdomen of wanting to go back to her place and do things. She pushed the idea to the back of her head and said, "Maybe later. So where do you want to go?"

"Just let me lead." He asked. When she nodded he looked around then apparated them both to another place. The town was smaller but still appeared to have a lively high street.

"Where are we?"

"Little Dimpton. In Kent." he replied as he walked with her through the growing dusk.

"Oh. I've never been here." She said looking around.

"I have. Its a nice town. We had to deal with a haunting at the Passion Flower Hotel over there." Harry pointed a nice four story house on the corner.

"So is that where we are going?"

"No the Cafe Ole is." Harry said, "Much more interesting."

Hermione shrugged, "Wasn't this whole town a Victorian party town, basically?"

"Something like that. They have a naturalist resort here too that opened back then." he said off handedly.

Hermione cleared her throat in awkwardness. She had always been comfortable with Harry, like a sibling, but she did have a few naughty thoughts about him from time to time. Plus some dreams she had been having recently had been quite on the erotic side of things. "Well that sounds like fun."

"It is. I've got a membership."

"Really? I never figured Ginny for the naturalist sort." she said in amusement.

"She's not." Harry said in a rather terse tone.

Hermione thought about pursuing that but they had arrived at the club and were shown to a table quickly. There was a lounge singer and band in the corner, a few people slowly dancing while others sat at tables enjoying food and drink.

"This feels a bit more our style." Harry said looking at her happily.

Hermione had to agree, "True. I think I'll leave that place for the young."

"Well at least you looked like you belonged there." Harry said with a grin, his eyes flickering down to her cleavage then back up to her face.

Hermione actually felt herself blush slightly, "Thank you."

Harry did not ask her why she had been there and she didn't ask him why he was there either. The two of them had a good meal and some wine. They did dance a few slow dances which caused her heart to thud in her chest as she felt his arms around her waist. She had not danced with Ron in several years and certainly hadn't had her heart pound thanks to him in even longer.

When the club finally closed after midnight they wound up walking along the beach. The almost full moon gave a sparkle to the sand and surf. She had taken her shoes off and was walking barefoot in the surf holding Harry's hand. She wasn't sure where this was going but she was enjoying it.

They had walked away from the closed shops into some shadowy areas and stood just looking out over the North Sea. She turned to Harry and sliding her hand around the back of his head brought his face down so she could caress his lips with hers. He did not resist her as his own arms slid around her waist to pull her closer. One hand going so far as to lightly rest on the curve of her right butt cheek.

They kissed for several moments, she tasted the wine on his tongue still. Her heart pounding and her loins fluttering she whispered to him, "I have the house to myself until tomorrow."

Harry didn't wait for her to change her mind and side apparated them to her back stoop.

…...

Hermione woke up the next morning feeling very strange and different. Her body tingled and ached in ways that told her she had been made love to. Very thoroughly made love to as she realized when she stretched and felt how relaxed her body seemed. She had allowed Harry to take control and set the pace of how far they went. Even with all of that the final step, the final thrust that joined them she had to tell him, practically order him to make that last move.

She sighed as she remembered how her orgasms with Harry had almost caused her soul to leave her body. She was not used to saying that word in the plural as Ron was lucky to get her off once before he finished. She sighed again noticing the smell of something very delicious wafting into the room.

Opening her eyes she saw Harry carrying a bed tray into the room. She could not even remember if she owned a bed tray. Sitting up, still naked from last night's exertions, she smiled at him.

"Well this is something."

He was wearing just his boxers and a T-shirt as he sat on the side of her bed, "Yeah it is."

She began to eat quietly as she fought the guilty voice trying to get her attention. She knew they were both married, but her marriage was on the rocks. She had been looking up divorce laws in the magical world over the last month and wondering if it would be worth it or not. Ron and her had not had even perfunctory sex in several months. She looked at Harry who was sitting beside her watching her eat as he rubbed her leg through the blanket.

"Harry. I think we should talk about this." She finally said.

"I know. The morning after guilt is setting in." he said taking his hand off her leg as he sighed.

"Yeah it is. I mean thank you for helping me not make a fool of myself at the club but we're married, and not to each other."

"I know. But my marriage is over." Harry sighed, "It has been for a long time."

Hermione blinked at him in confusion, "What do you mean? I saw you and Ginny at the summer gala this year. You looked incredibly in love."

Harry smiled, "Thanks. We've gotten good at acting. And we are still friends."

"I am very confused Harry." Hermione confessed.

Harry took one of her strips of bacon and nibbled on it. Finally he said, "Ginny came out to me as a lesbian. This was just after Lily Luna was born. Sex with me made her sick and she only did it because her mother pushed her to have grandchildren and a family." Harry explained, "She hid it from all of us for so long and is still hiding it from Molly and the rest of her family. Although I think Arthur found out. But you know him. As long as Ginny didn't take the dark mark he'd still love her."

Hermione wondered back to some of the girl's nights out they had gone on. Between Luna and Ginny, Hermione had been the stable responsible one. She had caught Ginny snogging Luna once but then Luna snogged almost all of her friends. She was a very happy physical woman.

"So. You and Ginny haven't been lovers?"

"Not since Lily Luna was nursing." Harry shook his head.

"Oh well. I uh. I wasn't expecting that." Hermione said.

Harry nodded, "Yeah. I mean I played around with some poly-juice and turned into Luna a few times to play around with Ginny but I kinda like being a guy too much."

"Luna knows?" Hermione's mind was reeling by how much she thought she knew about the world was unraveling.

Harry nodded, "Yeah. We've been friends with benefits ever since Ginny came out to us."

Hermione took a deep breath as she nodded. Luna was a free spirit. She had tried being married and even had a set of twins. But Rolf and her had parted ways not long after they were born and she had been single ever since then. She had a daughter who was a few years younger than Lily Luna that had beautiful green eyes. Hermione's own eyes grew wide as she thought about it.

Harry smiled as he nodded, "Yes, Celeste is my daughter."

"Oh. How did you manage to keep the Hall of Heralds from announcing that?"

"Well being the defeater of Voldemort still has some benefits among certain circles. Celeste knows but she's just like her mother so is not going to brag about it. When she comes of age she can choose to take the Potter name or not." Harry said with a deep sigh.

"Oh. So is Molly why you and Ginny haven't divorced yet?" Hermione asked worriedly.

Harry nodded, "Yeah. Ginny is afraid of what it would do to her. She really does love her mother and doesn't want to drive a wedge between her."

Hermione nodded, remembering how her own relationship with her parents had almost been shattered by her actions to send them to Australia. It took several hard years to regain their trust and love. She wondered sometimes if they still didn't fully trust her. "So who all knows?"

"Well the kids all know. They don't care. Luna and her kids of course. Ginny's girlfriend knows of course. Like I said I think Arthur knows, but he won't say anything. And that's it. No one else that I'm aware of. Or if they do know they aren't saying anything.

Hermione looked surprised but nodded, "Oh. Well."

"Now since we're being open and honest here. I didn't exactly have to work hard to seduce you." he stated calmly.

She sighed and ate a strip of bacon to delay answering. "I know. I think things with Ron are heading for the end of the road. If not already there."

"Well I have to admit I'm not surprised. I had you down for killing him in the betting pool a decade ago." Harry admitted.

Hermione crossed her arms, "Betting pool? Let me guess George ran a betting pool on how long our marriage would last?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah I have to admit. Neville had the two of you down the longest, although he agreed with me that it would end with us helping you to hide his body or something. Ginny said a week after the honeymoon you'd be single again."

"Did anyone think that we might make it?" She asked rolling her eyes. She had to admit it had taken couples counseling, marriage therapy and a good deal of her ignoring some of Ron's least annoying characteristics to make their marriage work as long as it had.

"You mean til one of you died from natural causes or something like that?" Harry asked thinking.

"Yes as in growing old together." She clarified.

He shook his head, "Nope. No one took that bet,. George closed the book out as you've gone past all estimates."

"Well there is that at least." Floating the tray to the dresser she froze as she saw the bright green bottle of the prophylactic potion she had meant to take before going out sitting on her dresser. She had not planned on having sex but got one to be safe just in case. She had stopped taking one a couple of months after her and Ron had stopped having sex as she didn't like the way they made her feel and why bother having a magical effect active when one didn't need to.

Seeing her expression Harry put his hand on her arm in concern, "Hermione? Are you okay?"

"Harry did you perform the prophylactic charm last night?"
He shook his head, "Uh no. I wasn't thinking about that at the time. Ginny had her uterus out and Luna told me never to bother with it."

Hermione closed her eyes to do math in her head. One of the side effects of living longer was that magicals gained their sexual maturity later and lasted longer before menopause. She had about another decade of child bearing years left if everything went well. So when she did the math and discovered she was right at the apex of her fertility cycle she made a slight whimper.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked worried now.

"Last night was the peak of my ovulation cycle, the highest risk point." She explained.

Harry looked at her in surprise then he started laughing.

She punched him on the arm, "Its not funny asshole. You probably just knocked me up!"

"Sorry. Sorry. Its just the way our luck runs. But are you sure?" he asked

"Harry. I have been as regular as a metronome since I was 12. I know my cycle by heart. If I say I got pregnant last night I mean it." She huffed angrily causing her breasts to heave.

Harry swallowed, "Okay. I'm sorry for laughing. So we should probably confirm that. So we can have evidence."

She frowned, "Always the auror, eh?"

"Well It will help in our divorces." He said with a smile.

Hermione hesitated. She had been looking up how to get a divorce but now that the reason had been dropped into her lap, literally, she wasn't sure she wanted one. It was a big change, what would the kids think, what would it do to her career. What about Harry's career. He had just been promoted to head of the Auror department.

"Hermione? I can see the wheels turning in overdrive." Harry softly said.

"I know. I just. I had been thinking about it, looking up how to get a divorce but now that. Now that I'm actually facing it I don't know if I can go through with it."

Harry nodded, "I understand. He hasn't really been mean to you or anything. When we've been out he talks about you like you're the best thing that happened to him."
She buried her face in her hands, "Oh Harry you're not helping me with this."
"I know. I just think we need to look at all of the facts. He's going to have to be told, you can't exactly keep this secret. Not forever at least." Harry said.

She took a deep breath, "I know. He'll be back this afternoon. I need to confirm I'm pregnant like you say. Maybe I'm not and we can. We can figure out what to do from here on out."
"Hermione we can't go back to just being friends. I felt something last night that I haven't felt in a very long time. Something special and wonderful. Something I've been trying to ignore. I love you Hermione." He said in a firm yet rushed tone.

Hermione's shoulders slumped. The part of her that still felt she should be a loyal and dutiful wife to Ron screamed at her as she heard those words. She had to admit she had been feeling the same building tingle every time she was around Harry. A sensation she had been trying to ignore and suppress. The screams from that part of her mind died out as she looked into Harry's soft emerald green eyes.

"Do you want me to leave?" Harry asked quietly.

Hermione shook her head, "No. I. I feel guilty but relieved at the same time."

Harry slid his hand into hers quietly they sat together before she leaned over resting her head on his chest, "Oh Harry. I love you too. I thought I loved Ron but it's like the glass had a crack and all of the love just drained away."

Harry stroked her hair as he held her tightly. "It'll work out. It always has."

"We should get dressed. I'm too nervous to cast any spells right now."

Harry helped Hermione stand up, holding her tightly as they felt their feelings surge.

…...

Harry and Hermione had gone to visit Luna. Hermione had not wanted to go to Saint Mungo's or a clinic yet to confirm the pregnancy but they believed Luna would be the most discrete out of their friends.

The door to the rebuilt Rookery opened to reveal the petite blonde who had filled out very nicely over the years. Her curves were still slender and more on the willowy side of things but very much on the classical feminine side of beauty. Her smile as always was her best feature according to Harry. "Hello Harry, Hermione. What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"We need you to cast a spell. I don't know it and Hermione's too flustered to get it right." Harry explained.

"The situation must be quite dire if Hermione is that flustered." Luna said gesturing them into the house.

Hermione awkwardly nodded, "Yeah. It sort of is."
"Cheating on your husband would be rather flustering I suppose." Luna said walking over to the side table.

Hermione's mouth dropped open as Harry chuckled, "How do you. How did you find out?"

Luna turned after picking her wand up, "Isn't it obvious Hermione. You and Harry show up almost at lunch, together, Ron is away with his brother at a trade show. We are all aware of things with Ginny. The two of you have always been close. You are emotionally compromised and if you were standing any closer to Harry you would be in his clothes with him."

Harry shook his head in amusement as Hermione leaned backwards against him, "You know Luna. I keep telling you I could use someone like you on my teams."

"I know Harry. But I prefer my independence too much. Celeste is visiting the Longbottoms. Margaret's kneazle had kittens. She will be back for lunch though."

"Okay. You making your Claudius Salad?" He asked.

"Of course." Luna said walking up to Hermione. "I take it you need to confirm if you are pregnant or not?"

"Yes please." Hermione said in a tremulous voice. "I am pretty certain I am but."

"But you need to know for certain before telling Ron." Luna said pointing her wand at Hermione's abdomen. "Gravida Revelio."

A small blue sphere floated out of Hermione's abdomen to hover just in front of her belly button for a few moments before fading. She gasped as she put her hand to her mouth.

"Congratulations you are having a boy." Luna said with her Mona Lisa smile.

Harry's arms went around Hermione to hold her snugly. "I'll be with you."

…...

Hermione was pacing as she waited for Ron to get back home. She had told Harry to go tell Ginny and give her some time alone to think and figure out how to tell Ron this. How to tell him that over two decades of marriage was over.

She decided to try and be patient, honest and just tell him the truth. She had drifted away from him and while she still cared she no longer loved him. Yes that was what she would do. He should understand that.

The door opened and Ron came trudging in. Dropping his bags he looked at her with a tired smile, "Hi. I'm back."

Hermione gave him a timid awkward smile, "Hi. How was the trip?"

He came over to sit on the couch after giving her a hug, "It was good. We may have a deal on expanding into Paris now."

"Oh that's good." She said then took a deep breath, "So uh. I need to tell you something."

Ron looked at her blankly, "Okay what?"

"I. I've been looking into a divorce." She took a deep breath after saying that as she tried not to make it obvious she was gripping her wand tightly.

Ron sat staring at her for a long minute, he seemed to be thinking and considering things as she watched. His face went from blankly curious to angry briefly, then resignation spread as he frowned.

"So its over?"

"I still care about you Ron. I really do I just. I don't know how to explain it Ron. Its like the fire died and we've just been stirring the ashes for the last few years."

Snorting Ron stood up going to the kitchen. She stood to watch him but he came back with a beer, taking a deep drink he set the bottle down then put his wand beside it. "No wands. I won't fight okay. But we need to clear the air."

Hermione nodded as she put her wand on the table beside his. Picking his bottle up he walked back to the living room and stood looking at the picture of the four of them. It was from when Hugo graduated from Hogwarts. "I don't blame you I feel the same way. Ever since Hugo moved out you and I have been going down different roads."

"Really?" Hermione asked in surprise.

Ron turned to look at her, "Yeah. I mean I always thought you put your career first but with the kids grown I really saw where I stood."

"No Ron. I loved you and the kids. I did all I could to spend as much time with all of you." She countered.

Ron shrugged, "Maybe. I dunno. You're always going to fancy dinners and meetings and negotiations with presidents and chancellors and stuff. Moving in circles that I just don't feel at home in. Meanwhile you're there shaking hands and schmoozing up these people. Getting your name in the paper and being all famous and everything."

"I thought you liked it when we went to the dinners and stuff."

"Hermione the last dinner we went to I sat in the kitchen getting pissed on Sherry with the cook and you never even noticed." Ron punctuated his comment by taking a swig from the bottle.

She wanted to refute that but couldn't. She remembered the dinner when Chancellor Rademacher from Germany had been appointed the next Supreme Mugwump of the ICW. That was about the same time as the trade negotiations with the Italians over the wine had broken down and she was pressuring him on what he was going to do about it.

"See you don't even remember I was there do you?"

"Okay Ron. I'm sorry. I've had a lot of things going on. I am the head of the entire government after all. I have responsibilities and duties."

"Yeah well someone else could have taken them over. We don't have to be always trying to save the world." Ron huffed.

"I'm not trying to save the world, I'm just trying to preserve it, make it better." She was getting angry "At least I'm trying to do some thing productive with my life!"

Ron set the beer down on the table with a loud thunk as he scowled at Hermione. "Productive? You don't think what I do is productive?"

Hermione shook her head while holding her hands up, "Look this is why I want a divorce Ron. We went through how many cycles of couples counseling? Marriage counseling. Therapy. We can never just have a quiet disagreement. It has always got to blow up into world war three."

"Well I guess that's why no one had happily ever after in the stupid pool." Ron snorted.

"You knew about George's betting pool?"

"He's my brother and business partner. Of course he was going to rub it in my face when he closed the books on it." He growled.

"Oh. I'm sorry." She said with a sigh. Sitting down on the couch with a pained expression, "I didn't know about the betting pool until today when Harry told me."
"Yeah well that's how much our friends thought of our relationship." Ron huffed as he collapsed onto the other end of the couch. "He told me Bill thought we'd not even make it past the honeymoon."

"Oh. We did do pretty good you know." She tried to calm down and sound reassuring.

"Mum and dad are still together you know." He countered. "So are your parents even."

"I know but they aren't us Ron. You and I. We just. I mean we haven't even had sex in months. You've come home late, eaten and gone to bed."

"You know we've been trying to get this Paris commission up and running. Plus dealing with the product expansion at the shops. I've been busting my tail on this project. George has been counting on me." he shook his head tiredly.

"I just don't felt like you didn't think I was attractive anymore. That you wanted me." she said doubtfully, wondering if she had thrown everything away over a misunderstanding.

Ron leaned forward, "Hermione, you've always been the best thing that happened to me. George keeps telling me I married upwards when I married you. Mum's even hinted at it a few times."

"Then why have we been drifting apart?" She asked tremulously.

"I don't know. I was hoping once the kids were grown you'd retire and we could you know. Maybe relax a bit. Only you've pushed even harder. Like if you didn't you know who would come back."

"Oh for fucks sake Ron Voldemort's been dead for over two decades. You can say his name!" Hermione screeched in frustration.

Ron flinched, "Sorry. I grew up listening to the horror stories about him. A lot of people still can't say his name."

"Well a lot of people still wear robes and think the invention of the fountain pen is quaint." She snorted angrily, "That doesn't mean we should do it."

"Okay. Fine. You think being traditional is so backwards. Well I'm sick of living in a muggle house. At the least we could have had a floo you know."

"I told you I didn't want a floo to help keep the Ministry at arms length from us."

"Yeah and keep mum from easily visiting us." Ron declared.

"Your mother still thinks I don't know how to cook properly." Hermione countered.

Ron sighed again before he hung his head, "Look I know we've been drifting apart. That still doesn't mean we should get a divorce. You know how rare they are in the magical world."

She sighed sadly, "Well when I tell you this net thing you might change your opinion."

Ron looked at her sideways, "What are you talking about?"

She bit her lip and stood up to begin pacing. "I told you I haven't felt like you wanted me, how you haven't looked at me or touched me for several months now."
Ron shrugged but said nothing.

"Well I put my sexy dress on and went out to a muggle club. It turns out Harry was there too."

"Why would Harry be there?" Ron interrupted.

Hermione clenched her fist uncertainly as she considered what to tell Ron about his sister and Harry. "Ginny and him are having some issues. He was there looking for a companion."

Ron grunted, "So she's finally coming out?"

Hermione stopped pacing, "No but she does like girls. And how do you know that?"

"I'm not stupid Hermione. I'm her brother. I've known she really liked girls since our fifth year." He declared with a shrug, "I'm more interested in knowing what you and Harry did at this club."

"Well it wasn't so much that club that we did anything at. It was loud and really wasn't something we enjoyed so we went to a place in Little Dimpton." She said taking a deep breath as Ron stared at her. Since he didn't say anything she continued.

"We had some drinks, and a nice dinner and then we went for a walk on the beach and then came back here and had sex and he got me pregnant." She said in an awkward rush. She stood facing him with her hands clasped in front of her biting her lip as she stared into his unblinking eyes.

He stared back at her for a long time. A very long time as Hermione fretted, finally she begged, "Say something Ron. Say anything."
"What do you want me to say? You brought my best friend back to our home and had sex with him in our bed and you want me to say what? Not only that you got pregnant by him. Were you planning on this?"

"No it just sort of happened. I didn't mean to."

"Oh so you just fell down and accidentally had sex?" Ron scoffed.

"Ron. Its not like that."

"Its not like that? Then what is it like? Cause the way I see it you went out to get laid and its just a good thing it was Harry that found you." Ron had jumped to his feet so quickly he made Hermione take a step backwards.

"You can't lay this all on me. If I'd had someone at home who attended to my needs maybe I wouldn't have felt like I needed to find someone else. Find someone who is more than a one pump chump and falls asleep before I even get off." She screamed at him. "Someone that knows when I've been stressed out and need emotional support. Do you think it would be nice to come home occasionally and have a hot bath ready or maybe MY favorite dinner already cooked. But no you barely know which end of a spatula to hold and have never run a bath for me. Even when I was pregnant with our children. You have never cared about my feelings, all you've wanted was a housewife and mother to take care of you. You've never understood why I have fought so hard at the Ministry."

Ron took a step towards her with an angry scowl, his fists clenched.

"What are you thinking Ron. Finally escalating to violence are we?" She inquired icily as she took a defensive stance.

Ron stopped and closed his eyes. Breathing hard he turned and grabbed his traveling cloak, wand and bags, "Goodbye Hermione. You're right its over."

The slamming of the door sounded so final. She stood staring at it for a long time before collapsing onto the couch in tears.

…...

After Harry had escorted Hermione back to her house he returned to Grimmould Place. As it was Saturday Ginny was at a game reporting for the Daily Prophet. He did find Lily Luna in the library.

"Hey squirt." He said giving her a big hug.

"Hi dad. Big case?" She asked looking at his wardrobe.

"No, I went to the club and just got back." He said with a shrug. Their kids had learned when they got old enough that mommy and daddy had a complicated relationship and dealt with it in their own ways. Lily dealt with it by being understanding and supportive of the both of them. James Sirius ignored all of it and focused on his own life while Albus seemed to deny there was anything abnormal about his family at all.

"Really? You went to a club?" Lily teased.

"Yes I did. And I even met someone." he teased back.

"Oh really? Could this be something serious?" she snickered.

Harry took a deep breath and sat in one of the reading chairs heavily, "Well since she got pregnant yeah it could be."

Lily looked shocked then disappointed at her father, "Dad. You were the one to always harp on me to take responsibility."
""I know. I got used to Luna making me not take precautions that when I actually did do it with someone else that I sort of got caught up in the moment and forgot." he confessed. His daughter was going to go to university to be a counselor so she worked hard to make people comfortable around her.

"Okay. Is she at least nice?"

Harry smiled broadly, "Yeah. I think so. You know her." His smile turned awkward as he said, "She's Hermione."

Lily looked at him for a moment in disbelief then asked, "Hermione. As in Aunt Hermione?"

"As in the very person." Harry said.

Lily sat in the other reading chair and leaned forward, "Okay you have to explain how this happened."

Harry sat back, "When I get a firm grip on how it happened I'll let you know."

"Why in the world were you out looking for someone else anyhow. I thought you and Aunt Luna had a good thing going on?"

"We do. I wanted to take her out but she called and canceled on me at the last minute and so I went ahead and went out. She suggested it. I wonder if she had one of her moments or something." Harry frowned.

Lily shrugged, "Its possible. Who knows. So you had a very good night with Aunt Hermione and got her pregnant. What was she doing in a club?"

"Well her and Ron are not doing too well it seems like. So she went out looking for fun and found me." Harry said in an ironic tone of voice.

Lily thought for a moment, "Uncle Ron is probably not going to take this very well."

Harry shrugged, "I know. But there isn't much I can do about it right now. Hermione and I are going to take responsibility for our actions."

"So, by responsibility that means you both get a divorce from your current partners and then get married?"

Harry looked at the ceiling for a moment before nodding, "That's what I hope happens."

"Well the game was almost over when I had the wireless on so mum should be home soon. I want to stay and referee this one."

"You don't think she'll take it badly do you?" Harry asked concerned.

"You know how much she wants to keep it secret that she likes girls or that you two don't have the perfect marriage. You even breath the D word to her and we'll be picking you out of the woodwork." Lily declared.

"I know. I'm going to have to tread very lightly when I tell her." Harry said with a deep sigh.

"I know this is going to be a rough question but are you sure Hermione is going to divorce Ron and want to marry you?" Lily asked pointedly.

Harry frowned, "I think so. She did seem to think her marriage to Ron is over."

"Well if it wasn't before it will be when he finds out you got his wife pregnant I bet." Lily said dryly.

Harry's shoulders slumped, "Probably. I only hope he doesn't hurt her."

Lily reached out to pat her father's hand, "I really doubt he would hurt her. He may be many things but Uncle Ron is not abusive."

Harry looked into his daughter's eyes and nodded in acceptance of her comment, "I guess. I sometimes wonder about him though. Everything that we went through as kids. We didn't have a good childhood."
"I know dad. You and all of your friends are broken in a lot of ways. But I really don't think Uncle Ron would go that far. Mum on the other hand." She smirked, "She is afraid of grandma Molly and will not like being forced to tell her this."

He chuckled until they heard the floo alert and Ginny calling out, "Hey I'm home."
"In here." Lily called out.

Ginny swept into the room happily, "Hey Lily. Oh Hi Harry." She said realizing he was there too. Stopping to look him up and down she gave him a brief hug as he stood up. "So you had a good night?"

"Uh yah. It was nice." He said awkwardly.

"So how's Luna?" Ginny asked while Lily looked at him.

"She's okay but I didn't spend last night with Luna. She said I should go to this club." He quickly said. "She was rather adamant about it."

Ginny nodded, "Oh. Well I hope she was nice to you."
Harry nodded, "Hermione usually is."

Ginny looked at him in surprise, "Okay. Maybe we should take this conversation back to the top."

Harry smiled, "So how was the game?"

"Nice. Tutshill won with a 40 point gap in overtime. Now about you spending the night with Hermione?" She crossed her arms.

"Hermione was there and we talked and went to Little Dimpton and she was saying she wanted a divorce from Ron and one thing led to another and we went to bed, had sex and now she's pregnant." He said in a long quick ramble. While trying to figure out what to do with his hands.

Ginny stood staring at Harry for several long seconds before she grabbed the front of his shirt and shoved him against the bookshelf, "YOU GOT HERMIONE, MY BROTHER'S WIFE, PREGNANT!"

"Well yeah. I didn't mean to though!" Harry tried to explain. "It just sort of happened."

"It JUST SORT OF HAPPENED? What she fell down and you slipped and put it in her?" Ginny raged with her face turning red.

Lily jumped up and tugged on her mother's arms. "C'mon mum. Lets not get physical."
"Physical? If I get my wand. Do you realize what this means? Ron is going to go run to Mum and then she is going to send a HOWLER FROM HELL to all of us involved in this. She is going to ask all kinds of questions until she gets answers she likes and then I'll be outed. I'll be ruined."

"Hun. Society doesn't care. Not even magical society anymore." Harry said.

"MY FAMILY STILL CARES! THEY'LL HATE ME!" Ginny shrieked loudly.

"I don't think that's true." Harry said quickly.

Lily backed him up, "Uncle George has told Jimmy some really naughty things him and Uncle Fred used to do back in school."

Ginny scowled at Lily, "Those two were always touched in the head, they don't count."

"With each other? And their friend Lee?" Lily asked.

"Still they're not Mum. Mum wants a nice normal happy family with plenty of grandkids." Ginny panted as she clenched and unclenched her fists.

"Well we did that. You did that in spite of things." Harry tried to sound reassuring.

Lily took the chance to release her mother as she felt her trembling change from rage to crying. Harry stepped forward to pull Ginny into a hug. "Look I love you the way you are. Your family will too."

"But I just. When she found out Fleur was bi and bringing a girlfriend for Bill and her to sleep with the way she reacted. And when Charlie came out she almost got banned from being allowed into Romania. She doesn't handle this sort of thing very well." Ginny tremulously said. "And when Jody and Marie got married when they legalized it how she demanded if I knew that about the harpies when I joined them. She interrogated me for hours Harry."

"Well she'll just have to learn to adapt." Harry declared.

"And you and Hermione. Violating your wedding vows, oh and me too for letting you sleep with Luna. Oh Merlin if she finds out about Celeste." Ginny beat her fist on Harry's chest softly in frustration.

"When she finds out about Celeste. Luna and I weren't going to hide her away like some kind of mistake." Harry declared.

"Well at least she's going to Hogwarts in a couple of weeks so will be safe when the biggest fallout begins." Ginny huffed pulling away from Harry. "Unless she. No she won't do that and neither would you."
Harry raised his eyebrow, "If you're talking about what I think you're talking about the answer is no."

"I know. I know. Neither you nor Hermione would do that. I'm just worried about what mum will do when she finds out about all of this."

"Well since she loves children I doubt she will be upset about Hermione having another one. Considering how she has been pushing her to have more anyhow." Lily pointed out.

"Yeah with Ron. Her husband. Not farm the job out to someone else." Ginny stridently pointed out.

"It wasn't like she slept with some random stranger. She slept with dad." Lily argued. "Grandmum loves dad."

Harry held his hands up in a she has a point expression.

"Oh this is not going to end well." Ginny shook her head worriedly.

"It'll work out Gin. Just wait and see. Look let's go out to dinner. Have a good night and try not to worry about tomorrow." Harry suggested with a hopeful smile.

Ginny took a deep breath, "Okay. I guess the condemned might as well have a hearty meal."

…...

Ron sat on the cot in the rooms above his shop in Hogsmeade. He was drinking straight from the bottle of Fire whiskey he had brought with him from Madam Rosmerta's.

He had almost tried to call Ginny at Grimmould but what would he tell her. That Harry screwed his wife and she liked it. That she was married to a man whore who stole another man's wife. Yeah that would go over so well. She may be a broom diver but she still liked Harry. He had enough of fighting with women, sister or not.

The other problem is what would have happened if Harry had answered the floo. That would not have ended well for Molly Weasley's boy Ron. He thought about how Harry could make his life a living hell as Chief Auror. Harry deserved it though for screwing his wife, HIS wife, and getting her up the duff.

How could she do that to him. She knew he had wanted another kid, three was such a nice number. Not so many that some got lost in the woodwork like when he was growing up. And with their other two moved out and grown they had the time and the money to raise another little one. He had asked her and she said no. He had begged her and she had said no. He had thought if he had stopped giving her any pleasure she would miss it and maybe come back wanting some but no she goes and spreads her legs for Harry fucking Potter.

Ron should have known it way back on the Horcrux hunt. How they looked at each other, how close they got. He knew she hadn't been a virgin when they got married. He was sure of it. The signs hadn't been there like the book said they would be. He ignored it though because she loved him. She held him and made him feel so good.

She had loved him and he had loved her. They didn't need anything else or anyone else. Only she did. She got tired of him and threw him away. Threw her loving husband away because he didn't matter to her anymore. She had her career, she had reproduced. Now she had her Harry and was going to have his kid.

He was done fighting with her, done fighting for her. He had tried and tried and tried to be what she wanted and he was never good enough. He would never be good enough. But Harry was. Oh yeah Harry was good enough, one fucking night together and blam she was preggers. How did that happen? He was a Weasley and they had to try for several months before they had Rose. It must have been her fault. He knew he was virile enough to do the job.

He tipped the bottle back and drew on nothing but air. Throwing the bottle against the wall he looked at the clock and wondered if Aberforth's place was still open.

…...

Harry went to the Ministry the next morning very upset. He had received a call at four in the morning from the Hogsmeade office that Ronald Weasley was in lockup for being drunk and disorderly. The shift sergeant had not been comfortable throwing one of the heroes of Hogwarts into the cells but Harry had assured him that none of them were above the law.

Harry sighed as he sat at his desk and looked for the report, it described a Ronald Weasley that Harry had seen glimpses of before. A self absorbed, in denial he did anything wrong, blaming everyone else for his problems prat. When Aberforth had finally tried to cut the firewhiskey off Ron had blown up. Literally blown up and started throwing furniture, other patrons, bottles around. He had a full blown loss of control that required a half dozen stunners to bring him down.

Harry leaned back in his chair and massaged the bridge of his nose while he thought. They had fought for no one to be above the law, and he was going to stick with that. Only he had no idea how Hermione would take it. Would she be upset at Ron for getting drunk and causing a scene or would she want him released to hush it up.

He took a deep breath and set Ron's file to the side. He would let him sleep it off for a few hours before he approached the problem again. Hopefully the papers would decide not to blast this over their front pages.

It was about mid-morning when the door to his office opened and Hermione slowly walked in. She looked like she had tried to make herself presentable but it was obvious from the baggy puffy eyes she had been crying and upset. She gave him a weak smile as she poured a mug of his coffee and sat across from him.

"I heard about Ron." She said without preamble.

"Yeah. He apparently didn't take it very well."

She snorted in dark amusement, "That was a bit of an understatement."

"Is there going to be trouble?" Harry softly asked.

"I don't think so." Hermione sighed, "At least not from me or my office."

"So what do they know?"

"Only that Ron was throwing quite a drunken fit last night and that we are having issues." She replied.

Harry nodded, "Maybe I should go talk to him, see if he's slept it off enough by now."

Hermione bit her lip, "Maybe. He probably wouldn't be happy to see me."

Harry nodded, "Well its probably a good thing he'll be on the other side of magic canceling bars when he sees me."

Hermione sighed deeply, "I have an appointment to talk to Susan. She'll help me get a divorce."

"You're going to go through with it?" Harry asked.

"Don't you want me to?" Hermione sharply asked him.

Harry nodded tiredly, "Yes. I'm sorry. My mind is not exactly working well. I couldn't sleep last night. Even without getting a call about Ron at four in the morning."

"I know. I didn't sleep very well either." She confessed.

"Well we'll get through this and then we'll have our own wedding with whatever friends we have left." Harry said standing so he could put his arms around Hermione's waist.

She leaned against his chest as she put her arms around him. "Oh Harry. Why did we not get together back in school?"

He had no answer so he just hugged her tightly.

…...

Walking into the Hogsmeade Auror post he nodded to the sergeant at the desk as he headed back to the holding cells. Being the Chief Auror had some benefits.

When he approached the cells he saw Ron sitting on the side of his bunk looking rather morosely at the floor.

"Hey." Harry called out as he approached the cell.

Ron glanced at him before returning to his study of the floor.

"So. You feel any better?" Harry asked in a low voice.

"They gave me a hangover cure if that's what you're asking." Ron grunted.

"Well one of the things. I spoke with Aberforth." Harry said with a slight chuckle, "He agreed to drop the charges if you agree not to darken his door again."

Ron frowned as he looked sideways at harry, "Thanks. You're just full of favors aren't you."

Harry sighed, "I suppose I deserve your anger right now Ron. There's nothing I can say."

"You got that right. I guess I should be grateful it was you she cheated on me with." Ron said tiredly.

Harry took the key and unlocked the door, sliding it wide open. He stepped back just in case Ron decided to come out swinging but all he did was look at the door then at Harry.

"Is there any particular reason that door is open?" Ron asked.

Harry licked his lips, "Well since Aberforth dropped the charges there is no reason to keep you in there. Most of the other customers don't exactly like to get into entanglements with aurors so they aren't pressing charges either."

Ron stood up and slowly walked through the door staring at Harry, pausing as he came even with Harry, "You do realize this ends our friendship?"

"Yeah, I know." Harry said evenly. "Just don't hurt Hermione because of this."

Ron paused and looked into Harry's eyes, "You think I'd hurt her because of this? Really?"

Harry sternly said, "I don't know Ron. This is something new for me too."

Ron shook his head, "I just want to get this over with. I may not love Hermione but I still care about her so don't worry. You won her, I won't make waves."

"Okay. I'm sorry Ron." Harry offered.

Ron shrugged and shuffled past his former friend.