Betrayal

As it turned out, the potion Molly made did the trick, which saved Harry a bit of money, although it wouldn't have mattered to him one way or the other. He was doing all he could for Ginny within the limits of their situation, and that's what mattered. It was roughly a week later that Hermione finally got her six-week checkup and got the all-clear from her Healer. However, she didn't tell Harry, at least not directly. Instead, she left the owl post stating the results for him to find and he perused it while she was napping with the baby, little Solomon.

In spite of himself he couldn't help feeling apprehensive; what would she do now? Would Hermione make overtures to him or expect him to make overtures to her? Even as well as he believed he knew her, Harry was very uncertain as to what to expect next. Until he knew one way or the other, he would make sure to feign sleep so she wouldn't try to approach him. They were still manifestly sharing the same bed, but mostly for sleeping purposes. The baby was old enough by now to have his own room, but at the moment he was lying next to her on their bed, Hermione curled protectively around the child.

There were times that Harry stood in the doorway of the bedroom just watching his wife and child, feeling great affection for them both. Little Solomon had her nose and bone structure but his eyes and lips. However, over the last six weeks he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that his love for Hermione would never be anything but of the friendship variety. His heart, mind and body belonged to Ginny, now and for all time--and if she didn't approach him soon, he would have to make the first move. It was becoming progressively more difficult to separate from Ginny after every tryst--and Harry was convinced that it was only a matter of time until he would be unable to. He just hoped it didn't happen until he was able to do something about his present dilemma.

* * * * *

It was another week before Hermione broached the subject. They were having breakfast, little Solomon in a levitating cradle next to her place at the table. "Harry, we've got to talk."

"About what?" he had to ask, although he was sure he knew what she was about to say.

"About us. Our marriage. We can't put it off any longer."

"Unfortunately I have to agree with you, 'Mione. Have you come to any decision?"

"Yes--but I want to mention that I can tell you're trying to avoid me in bed and I know why. I can't blame you, but this procrastinating can't go on. Something's got to be done."

"Like what?" Harry asked between bites of sausage and egg, then a swallow of pumpkin juice.

"You've done an admirable job, but I know how you really feel. Now, I'm willing to let you go as long as you give me custody of little Solomon. I'm willing to grant you visitation rights, but until I can find work, I'm going to need child support and alimony. It would also be appreciated if you deeded this flat to me at the proper time so the baby and I won't be out on the street."

"I'd never do that to you, 'Mione," Harry assured her. "Both of you will be well taken care of."

"I know, Harry. I never had any doubt of that. I just think this marriage has served its purpose, and for the sake of everyone concerned, it's best that we end it now and resume our romances with the true objects of our affection."

"I'll always love you, 'Mione. It's just not the kind of love a husband should have for his wife."

"Just as you'll always be special to me, Harry," she assured him, reaching across the table to cover his nearest hand with hers. "It's just getting too hard on both of us to maintain this marriage when we're both in love with other people."

"So what do you think we should do first?"

"Keep it quiet until things are more set, for one thing," she remarked between bites of egg and sips of her own pumpkin juice and checking on the baby periodically. At the moment he was asleep, but how long that would last was a matter for debate.

"You should start looking for a flat of your own which you can share with Ginny. I noticed that she's beginning to show, and I'm sure you want to have her where you can keep an eye on her."

Harry couldn't argue with that, making a mental note to start owling the places in the immediate area which were likely to have vacancies, maybe even take Gin along with him if she felt up to it. She was also likely to be the only other person he would let in on the secret of his and Hermione's break-up until the proper time. At the same time, he was sure that once Ron found out, he would be making plans to start pursuing Hermione again--and Harry intended to make sure that his best mate knew that he would have his blessing.

* * * * *

Harry got together with Ginny a few days later, meeting her at a local pub for breakfast. She asked him why they couldn't have it at the Burrow. Harry said, "I need to talk to you about something I can't tell your folks about yet. As it is, I have to swear you to secrecy. You can't even tell Ron until I say it's all right."

"It's that important, huh?" Ginny guessed, taking a swig of her orange juice.

"It's very important," Harry assured her. "Gin ... Hermione and I have decided to ... split up."

The stunned silence on Ginny's part was almost palpable in the air, but she finally managed to find her voice. "Well, that's good to hear--at least for us and Ron. I'm not sure how the others will react, though."

"There's no way we can please everyone in a situation like this, Gin. We just have to please ourselves and hope for the best." Harry reached across the table and squeezed Ginny's nearest hand. "At least this way we can openly be together ... that is, once everything's set."

"And approximately how long will that take?"

"Three months or so, if all goes well. I've agreed to give her custody of little Solomon, along with title to the flat we presently share, as well as alimony and child support ... and how long the alimony lasts is contingent on how long it takes her to find work."

"You'll still get visitation rights, I hope."

"Of course. We just haven't worked out the precise details yet."

"Knowing Hermione, she's probably doing that right now," Ginny remarked with a laugh. "And I can imagine how happy Ron's going to be once I'm finally able to tell him."

"I intend to make sure that he knows he has my blessing, don't worry. Which reminds me, how are you doing?"

"Physically, I'm feeling a lot better since I've been taking Mum's Anti-Nausea Potion, and my emotions have just been lifted a thousand percent with your news. It's just going to seem like an eternity until we can be together openly."

"Believe me, I know the feeling," Harry replied. "When do you intend to move downstairs?"

"Depends on how long it takes you to find a flat we can share," she returned with a provocative wink. "For the time being, though, let's just finish breakfast and celebrate this bit of good news in our own way."

"Why, you little vixen," Harry teased back with an equally provocative smile. "Don't worry, we will!" With that, he attacked his remaining breakfast with gusto, as did Ginny, and within the next half hour the lovers headed for the long-standing reserved room at the Leaky Cauldron which Harry had kept since the beginning of his liaison with Ginny--and within another hour, their own private celebration was well underway. But once the news got out, they wouldn't be the only ones.