Leaving for Love

Disclaimer: I don't own them, JKR does... I'm just borrowing : )

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Hermione Weasley sat upon her bed thinking over her situation. She and Ron had been married, not so happily, for seven years now. It had been about two years after the demise of Voldemort that Ron had finally popped the question.

Her mind flashed back to the day he proposed. It was at a Weasley family dinner, nearly eight years ago. Everyone had been there, Molly, Arthur, Fred, George, Fleur, Bill, Charlie, and Charlie's wife Sarah, Ginny, Dean (him and Ginny had gotten back together not too long before the dinner), and of course Harry.

There had been lively chatter and laughter all throughout the evening. They had just finished dessert in the garden, and it was all lit up with candles that seemed like such a romantic scene to Hermione. Ron had gotten up and announced he had something to say.

Hermione looked up at him with a thoroughly confused look. That's when she caught the serious look on his face, and right there in front of his entire family, Ron had gotten on one knee and said, "Hermione, I love you like I have never loved anyone else, and I am ready to find out what forever feels like with you. Will you give me your hand in marriage?"

Hermione had sat there for a few seconds, stunned. She looked up and around and realized everyone else was as shocked as she was. But she knew she should have suspected this to happen. Ron had been acting strangely toward her for about two weeks, and wouldn't answer her when she asked what the matter was.

She looked down at Ron's face and whispered, "Of course I will Ron." She looked up at Harry and she remember feeling puzzled that he had an expression of deep sorrow was on his face, which he quickly hid when she looked at him.

The truth was she was feeling rather disappointed herself. She had hidden feelings for Harry that she would barely admit to herself that existed for quite a while. But she loved Ron. And knew it would be good for her if she married him.

So nearly eleven months later, she and Ron wed. Two years later along came Mollie, named of course after her grandmother. And two years after that, along came Charlie, named for the baby's uncle.

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Harry seemed to lose touch with Ron and Hermione after the wedding. Hermione knew from Ron that Harry had been named Head of the Auror Office not long after his successor stepped down. Ron hated Hermione mentioning Harry at all, and Hermione knew that Ron was hopelessly jealous of Harry. Ron had started Auror training with Harry, but Ron had flunked out not long after beginning. No one dared to mention it around Ron, even Fred and George steered clear of the subject. Instead, Ron was able to get a position working under his father at the ministry.

Hermione had written to Harry a few times, and received short and hurried replies that didn't add up to much. Apart from this, it made Ron furious, and he forced her to stop trying to make contact with Harry. Hermione did not blame Ron she knew it was his pride that got in the way.

She knew that their marriage was slowly dying though, and this thought scared Hermione more than anything. Hermione knew that Lavender Brown had about a year ago joined Ron's department, and since then Ron had been spending increasing time at the office, and this time has elevated so much that he was hardly ever home anymore. When he did come home, she could smell a strange perfume on it and he wouldn't speak much to Hermione.

Hermione knew that Ron was having and affair with Lavender. She couldn't bear the thought, but she didn't dare accuse him without any solid proof. And besides, the children would never understand if she left their father. And she didn't know a Weasley that was divorced or every even mentioned it.

Ginny was happily married to Dean and they were expecting their first child any moment. Fleur and Bill were still as in love as the day they wed and had three children, one about to start Hogwarts. Fred and George remained unwed, much to Molly's disappointment. And Sarah and Charlie were newly weds, and were trying to conceive. They all met every Friday night for dinner at Molly and Arthur's. Harry used to join them, but in the recent years he had stopped coming, due, Hermione was convinced to Ron's growing spite for Harry's ability and rising status at the Ministry.

Hermione spent a lot of her time at the book store she had opened in Diagon Alley, and it was her passion. She sold all kinds of books, muggle and magical alike, with the exception to those books dedicated to the dark arts. She found it manageable to run the bookshop with Molly keeping the children while her and Ron were working.

Hermione sat upon her bed thinking of how the Weasley's would react to a divorce between her and Ron. It had been on her mind increasingly lately, although she could not bear the thought of actually going through with it. Ron's family would be heartbroken and she couldn't bear the remarks from her own family. You didn't have to be a wizard to understand divorce, and her parents hated the idea of anyone giving up a marriage.

She sighed, and rolled over, and realized it was time for her to arrive at Molly's for dinner. Another night of pretending she was sure.