Hermione Granger was known for her intellect, sharp wit, and an unyielding sense of justice. But there was another side to her that very few people saw—a side that was deeply emotional, vulnerable, and desperately seeking validation. Today, that side of her was raw and aching, unable to reconcile the logical reasoning she was so adept at with the searing pain in her heart.

It had been seven months since Ron Weasley broke up with her. Seven long months that felt like a lifetime. She could still remember the moment as if it had just happened. Ron had asked to meet her at their favorite spot in Hogsmeade, a quaint little café they had frequented ever since their school days. Hermione had thought nothing of it, assuming it was just another one of their routine dates. But the moment she saw the conflicted look on his face, she knew something was terribly wrong.

"What's going on, Ron?" she had asked, her voice laced with concern.

Ron had fumbled with his words, his face flushed with a mixture of guilt and sadness. "Hermione, there's something I need to tell you. It's... it's about us."

Those three words—"it's about us"—had sent a shiver down her spine. She had known then that whatever was coming next would change everything. And it did.

"My parents... they—they just can't accept us being together. I've tried, Hermione, I've really tried, but they won't budge. They say it's because we come from different backgrounds, different religions. I kept telling them it wouldn't matter, that love is stronger than all of that. But they just won't listen."

Hermione had felt the ground slipping away beneath her feet. "Ron, we've been together for eight years. We've been through so much. This can't be the end."

Ron had looked at her with eyes full of sorrow. "I know, Hermione. I love you, I really do. But I can't go against my family. They mean the world to me, and I can't break their hearts. I'm so sorry."

She had wanted to scream, to argue, to beg him to reconsider. But the words had died in her throat, and all she could do was nod numbly as tears welled up in her eyes. Ron had leaned in to hug her, but she had pulled away, not wanting to feel the warmth of his embrace, knowing it would be the last time.

Since that day, Hermione had tried to move on. She had buried herself in work, taken up new hobbies, and even tried to reconnect with old friends. But nothing seemed to fill the void that Ron had left behind. The worst part was seeing him on social media, living his life as if nothing had happened. He hadn't unfollowed her on Instagram, and she had done the same, though she couldn't quite explain why. Maybe it was because a part of her still hoped that he would come back to her, that he would realize the mistake he had made and beg for her forgiveness.

But that hope was dashed every time she saw him post a picture with the new woman in his life. A woman Hermione didn't know, and who seemed to have stepped into her place with alarming ease. The sight of them together, smiling and happy, was like a knife to her heart.

One morning, Hermione found herself mindlessly scrolling through Reddit. It was a habit she had picked up in the last few months, a way to distract herself from the relentless pain. She had joined a few subreddits related to books, science, and feminism, and often found solace in the discussions there. But tonight, she stumbled upon a subreddit she had never visited before: r/BreakUps.

The subreddit was filled with stories from people who had gone through heartbreaks of their own—some recent, some years old. As Hermione scrolled through the posts, she felt a strange sense of connection with these strangers. Their pain mirrored her own, and in some cases, even surpassed it. But what struck her the most were the comments—the advice that people offered, often brutally honest, but always coming from a place of experience.

Hermione found herself lingering on one post in particular. It was from a woman who had been in a long-term relationship, only to have it end because of familial pressure. The woman had poured her heart out, detailing the agony of watching the man she loved choose his family over her. The comments were a mix of empathy and tough love. Some people told her to move on, that she deserved someone who would fight for her. Others told her that the man was a coward, and that she was better off without him.

Hermione's heart pounded as she read the post. It was eerily similar to her own situation, and the rawness of it made her feel exposed. But there was also something cathartic about it—knowing that she wasn't alone, that others had gone through the same thing and survived.

Before she knew what she was doing, Hermione found herself clicking on the "Create Post" button. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating for a moment. Did she really want to do this? Did she want to lay bare her soul for the world to see?

But the need for release, for some kind of validation, was too strong to ignore. She began to type, her words coming out in a rush as if they had been bottled up inside her for too long.

Title: He Chose His Family Over Me—Eight Years Down the Drain

Text:

"I never thought I'd be the one posting here, but I guess life has a way of throwing you curveballs. My ex and I were together for eight years. We met in school, became best friends, and eventually, more than that. I thought he was the love of my life, the person I was meant to be with forever. But seven months ago, he broke up with me. He said his parents couldn't accept us being together because we come from different religious backgrounds. He tried to convince them, but they wouldn't budge. And so, he chose them over me.

I've been trying to move on, but it's been hard. Really hard. We were so close—I knew his family, his friends, his entire world. And now, I feel like I've been erased from that world. To make things worse, I think that he had already moved on. He's posting pictures of another woman, someone I don't even know. It hurts to see him so happy while I'm still stuck in this nightmare.

I don't know what I'm expecting by posting this. Maybe I just need to hear from people who've been through the same thing. Maybe I need some brutal advice to shake me out of this. All I know is that I can't keep pretending I'm okay when I'm not."

Hermione stared at the screen, her heart racing. The post was brutally honest, more so than she had ever been with anyone else about her breakup. Her finger hovered over the "Post" button, and for a moment, she considered deleting it all. But then she thought about all the other people who had shared their stories, who had found some measure of comfort in doing so. Maybe, just maybe, this would help her too.

She pressed "Post" and then immediately shut her laptop, as if trying to distance herself from what she had just done. For a moment, she felt a surge of anxiety, wondering if she had made a mistake. But there was no taking it back now. It was out there for the world to see.

Hours passed, and Hermione tried to distract herself with a book, but her mind kept drifting back to the post. She resisted the urge to check her notifications, telling herself that she would look at it in the morning. But as the night wore on, curiosity got the better of her. She opened her laptop and logged back into Reddit.

Her post had already garnered dozens of comments, more than she had expected. As she started to read through them, she felt a mixture of emotions—relief, anger, sadness, and even a bit of hope.

One of the top comments read: "I've been there. It's devastating when someone you love chooses their family over you, but it's not your fault. You deserve someone who will stand by you no matter what. It's going to hurt for a while, but you will get through this. And one day, you'll find someone who loves you for who you are, without any conditions."

Another comment was more direct: "He's a coward. If he really loved you, he would have fought for you. Don't waste another moment of your life pining over someone who didn't have the guts to stand up to his family. You're better than that."

Hermione felt a pang of sadness as she read the comment, but also a strange sense of empowerment. It was true—she had spent too long hoping that Ron would come back, that he would realize his mistake. But maybe it was time to stop waiting. Maybe it was time to start focusing on herself, on her own happiness.

Other comments offered practical advice—suggestions on how to cope with the heartbreak, how to take care of herself, and even how to block Ron on social media so she wouldn't have to see his posts anymore. Hermione found herself nodding along as she read, grateful for the support from these strangers who had no reason to care about her but did anyway.

But there was one comment that stood out to her the most. It was from a user whose name she didn't recognize, but the words struck a chord deep within her.

"Sometimes, the people we love the most aren't the ones we're meant to be with. It doesn't mean that the love was any less real, but it does mean that it's time to move on. Your life isn't over because of this. It's just beginning. Take this as an opportunity to rediscover who you are outside of the relationship. You're stronger than you think, and you'll come out of this even stronger. Then go and find yourself some love."

Hermione read the comment over and over, letting the words sink in. Maybe they were right. Maybe this was a chance for her to rediscover herself, to find out who she was without Ron by her side. It wasn't going to be easy, and it wasn't going to happen overnight. But for the first time in months, Hermione felt a glimmer of hope. Then received a message from the user who had left the comment that had resonated with her so deeply. The message was simple, just a few words, but it brought a smile to her face.

"How are you holding up?"

Hermione replied, thanking them for their comment and letting them know how much it had helped her. They exchanged a few more messages, talking about life and the challenges they had both faced. It was a small connection, but one that made Hermione feel a little less alone in the world. They instantly connected upon their shared interests and it felt great pouring out her heart.