Chapter 7
Much like every week with her children, the time flew. They had spent the week on outings and even took a trip to the country for a few days. There was less than a month till they would all go off to Hogwarts and even though she knew she would still see them everyday, she needed to spend as much time with them as she could. Once they started school, she was as much their professor as she was their mum. This thought concerned Hermione, as she hadn’t known anybody personally, who had children at Hogwarts at the same time as they taught. If McGonagall thought she could do it then Hermione had absolute faith that she was correct.
By the time Saturday came back around, Hermione was anxiously awaiting contact from Molly Weasley to determine what time to floo her children to The Burrow so everyone could go to the game.
Hermione had hoped to meet Malfoy at the game, their first outing, since becoming a couple. It would be the thing that made them or broke them, as the public would now see them together and they would surely face scrutiny. She wasn’t sure he’d come as she was still waiting on confirmation that he would be finished work.
Hermione and her children sat in the living room by the fireplace, waiting for the sign that they could go. At exactly 2pm, the fireplace lit up a brilliant orange, for just a second, which was the sign for them to come. Hermione adjusted her outfit in the mirror. It wasn’t too flashy but not too casual either. She felt comfortable enough for the game and glam enough to go out afterwards.
The three of them stepped into the fireplace and Hermione said “The Burrow” as she dropped the floo powder to the floor.
She held onto her children as they whizzed past many different grates. They saw flashes of other peoples living rooms and heard snippets of conversations as they passed. Within seconds, the Burrow’s kitchen came into view and the motion stopped.
Hermione, Rose and Hugo stepped out of the fireplace at the Burrow and into the kitchen. Immediately, Hermione was welcomed by the Weasleys, the older, the younger and the even younger.
Ginny was no where to be seen, apparently getting ready in her old room.
After she said hello to everyone, the Weasley siblings and the children, Hermione made her way up the stairs to find Ginny. She pushed open the door to Ginny’s old room on the floor above the living area and found Ginny sitting on her old bed.
“This is like some kind of time warp” she said.
“Hmm?” Ginny asked.
“Your room. It’s exactly how it was the first time I ever walked into it” Hermione said, looking at the pink walls.
“oh. Right” she said.
“Are you alright?” Hermione asked.
“Ha, yep. Sure am” Ginny said, sounding a little hysterical.
“You’ve played tonnes of games Gin, you’ll be fine” Hermione said.
“Tonnes of games in my twenties. I’m thirty-four Hermione. What the hell am I doing?” Ginny cried out.
“You’ve trained so hard for this, you’re a better player than anybody I know Gin. You’ve got this” Hermione said, sitting on the bed beside her.
“I should have stuck with reporting, not playing” she sighed.
“Alright, lets call them up and tell them you’re not going to play. They’ll forfeit and you can go back to writing” Hermione said, shrugging.
Ginny just looked at her and sighed.
“I’m serious, I’ll call them up right now” Hermione said, smiling as she saw Ginny’s face change.
“Godric Hermione” Ginny said.
“Look, just play one game, the one game you’ve trained for and see how you feel. If you fail miserably, then write an article about how you came back for a one game only thing and expected to do much worse… Or whatever. But I know you. You’re the best quidditch player I’ve ever seen. You’ve played internationally, you’ve played locally. Ginny, you can do this, I’m certain of it” Hermione said, pacing the room, looking at the same posters she stared at during the summers she spent at The Burrow.
“Why do you always have to be….” Ginny began.
“Right? It’s a gift” she said, smiling widely at her friend.
“I guess I ought to get ready then” Ginny said.
“I think so” Hermione said, leaving the room.
She made to go downstairs, but as soon as she closed the door behind her, she felt an unconscious pull towards the higher levels of the house.
She climbed the stairs and on the next landing, found the door to George’s old room open. She peeked inside and saw a sleeping toddler, Freddy, laying on the bed. She smiled to herself as the red haired boy rolled over in his sleep. She missed her kids being that age, but didn’t think she could stand going through the early years of parenthood again, even if she could. She suddenly realised that this was something she was yet to discuss with Malfoy. Was he looking at the prospect of having children? They had been intimate on a few occasions now and never used any protective enchantments or muggle condoms. Surely he’d be wondering about pregnancy concerns? There was less than on per cent chance of her ever conceiving which in medical terms, was zero, with a margin of error just in case they were wrong. She certainly hadn’t taken precautions in 11 years and so far, hadn’t fallen pregnant.
She climbed the stairs and remembered the first time she had to have that discussion with Ron as she found herself arrive on the attic level, where his room once was.
“Ron, there’s something we need to discuss” Hermione said, jut days after they had arrived back from Australia.
“Ok” he said, not looking away from the chess board that was in front of him.
“Can you please just look at me while we have this conversation, its really important” she said. He sighed as he roughly pushed away the board, sending pieces flying.
“You’ve been pretty closed off since we’ve been back, so let’s have it. You’re breaking up with me, aren’t you? Going to live with your parents in Australia?” he asked.
“No Ron, Merlin, I’m trying to tell you I think I’m pregnant you ass” she said, louder than she ought to have.
Ron’s mouth opened and closed like a fish that was gasping for air. He said nothing, just stayed in that stunned state.
“I uh, I have to go… somewhere” he said, jumping up and leaving her sitting there all alone.
“I should have known then” she said to herself, quietly, as she glanced around the tiny room.
“Known what?” came the voice of Ron behind her.
She spun around and almost lost her balance, steadying herself against the door frame.
“Nothing” she said as she walked past him and made her way down the stairs.
“Hermione, wait” he called.
“Sorry, I have things to be doing” she said.
“Our children are down there, cant we jut be civil, for them?” he asked.
“I am being civil, Ron” she said, standing on the landing of the third floor.
“Well, I need to warn you…” he began.
“Warn me about what?” she asked.
Before Ron could speak, Hermione had her answer.
“Ron? Ronnie? Where are you?” came the shrill voice of a blonde 20 something heading towards them up the stairs.
“You’re not serious? Introducing her to your family, are you?” Hermione asked.
“I did that already. She’s coming to the game” Ron said.
“Right” Hermione said, as the bimbo came into view on the stairs.
“Oh, there you are Ronnie, I couldn’t find you….” She stopped as she saw Hermione and Ron standing on the stairs together. “What’s this?” she asked, looking seriously concerned.
“No need to be worried sweetheart, I was just reminiscing about the time I told Ron I thought I was pregnant and he ran out on me” Hermione said, regretting the words as they fell from her lips. Hermione had never been this petty. Not even during the divorce, but then again, this woman hadn’t been thrown in her face before either.
Hermione pulled out her phone as she trudged down the stairs, typing text to Malfoy as she went.
H-D- Hey handsome wizard, are you coming to the game?
She hoped he would. It had been up in the air as he was flat out with a proposal for work and didn’t think he would make it.
He replied almost immediately, as she found herself on the bottom floor of the house, surrounded by red haired Weasleys, but unnoticed.
Her phone flashed ‘out of service’ and switched off, a common side effect of being around too many magical beings.
She slipped out the door and walked a short way down the path before her phone lit up and buzzed with a text notification.
D-H- I wouldn’t miss it. I’ll meet you at the gates.
Hermione’s heart fluttered, as she pocketed her phone and headed for the door.
Inside, the conversation had turned to Ginny’s previous amazing game efforts.
“I remember when Ginny bounced the quaffle off one goal post and kicked it into the other with her broken foot. Now that was a goal” George said.
“How about that time she fell off her broom and broke both her arms?” Charlie asked, laughing.
“I was pulled off, thank you” Ginny said from the bottom of the stairs.
“No, no, I have the best one… What about when Harry marched onto the field and proposed to her after the team won the National cup?” Percy asked.
“Don’t remind me, that was mortifying, imagine if she had said no?” Harry asked.
“It was sweet…” Hermione began, feeling all gushy about her own new romance.
“Oh, I remember that…” came the voice of the 20 something bimbo over the crowd. “I heard about it from the 7th years at Hogwarts when I was a kid. It was the talk of the school for the whole day” she said.
The whole room went silent as they all took in the fact that, not only was Ron’s new homewrecking girlfriend there, but she was so young, that when they were all in their 20s, she was barely in Hogwarts.
“Wow…” said Hermione suddenly. “I bet the news stopped you from playing with your dolls for the entire week!” Hermione said, cattiness in her voice.
“Hermione…” Ron began.
She turned and looked to him and raised an eyebrow.
“Yes Ron?” she answered. Everyone was watching the three of them intently.
“Jealousy does not look good on you” he said, as he put his arm around his pouting girlfriend.
Hermione just laughed at this and said, “Not even a hint of jealousy here…. Just a whole load of….” Was all she could get out before Mrs Weasley took her by the hand and removed her from the room.
Once she was in the kitchen, she thanked Molly and stood by the bench.
“I love you Hermione my girl and I know that what my Ron did was unforgivable. Bringing her here was not ideal, but you need to come to terms with this” she said.
“I have. Truly, I am happy for Ron. I wish them nothing but the best of luck in their future. I have moved on also, in fact. I just let my mouth speak before my brain has kicked in sometimes. I apologise for being that childish” she said.
“Its ok my dear, I just thought it was best to remove you before you took it to a place you’d regret later” the older witch said.
“Hahaha that was hilarious” Ginny said as she came bounding through the door. Definitely one of my top five moments from the living room” she said.
“Well, I’m not proud of myself. I sunk to a level that is far beneath me” Hermione said.
“Just wait till everyone sees who you bring to the game. I almost wish I could be there to see” she said.
“Almost?” Hermione asked, remembering her hesitation less than an hour ago in her bedroom.
“Yeah, I know now that I was just being silly” Ginny said.
“So you’re keen to play today?” Hermione asked.
“Hundred per cent” she said.
****
Hermione chatted with Harry, as they walked with the large group of Weasleys heading for the stadium.
“So is he coming?” Harry asked.
“He?” she questioned.
Malfoy” he said.
“Oh, yes, he should be meeting me at the gates” Hermione said.
“And Ron knows about this?” Harry asked.
“Ron knows nothing” Hermione said.
“It’s going to be a shock to him. They were enemies in school” Harry said,
“So were you, and so was I. And to be fair, it was a shock for me seeing Ron all but swallowing that girl who broke up our marriage” Hermione said.
“Ok, thats fair. So how are you going to tell him?” Harry asked.
“I’m not” Hermione said, shrugging.
The group approached the gates and Hermione let the crowd enter before she purposely lagged behind. She knew Malfoy was meeting her here shortly, and she wanted to wait for him. She moved to the side of the entry way to get out of the way and lost sight of her group. She wasn’t too concerned, as she had her ticket anyway and would find her seat once she got inside.
It wasn’t even a minute till she saw the blonde-haired man walking towards her. He looked amazing, as always and as soon as he neared her, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
“Hello to you too” he said.
“Uhhh, its been so long” she said.
Before letting go, he pulled her closer against him and kissed her again, more passionately than just moments ago.
“hmm, I missed that” he said.
“Come on, I have seats” she said.
“Wait” he said. “This is a big deal. If everyone is here, this means everyone’s going to see us together. There’s no going back now” he said.
“You afraid?” she asked, smiling. She wanted everyone to see them together.
“No, I thought you may be, but clearly you aren’t” he said, taking her by the hand and walking through the gates with her.
In the thoroughfare between the gates and the stands, huge posters were erected with Ginny’s face on them, emblazoned with the words ‘COMEBACK QUEEN’. Ginny was certainly adored.
Hermione led Malfoy through the stands and towards where she knew their seat to be. They had a VIP box high up and it would take them a long time to get there. She knew that it would be all the better to see the game, as all the good boxes were, but it still made it harder to get there.
“If I knew I wouldn’t land on someone, I’d apparate us there” she said.
“Somehow I feel like you’ve done that before?” Malfoy asked.
“Well, when we were younger, and Ginny used to play all the time. We were running late, me and Ron, and he decided to apparate us there. Can’t say it was a pretty sight” Hermione said.
Before long, the box was in sight and Hermione breathed in a deep breath before entering. The room was full of people, mostly red heads and no one really noticed the two slip in. There was a buffet table to one side where Ron was situated and the rest were huddled by the railing at the front, pointing out different things in the crowd and the field.
The box was fairly large, so it took a while before anybody noticed the couple. Harry came and shook hands with Malfoy, something Hermione was grateful for. She had spoken to him about how much Malfoy had changed and it was heartening to see Harry be so accepting. The two exchanged words about the game, spoke about their respective jobs and chatted about the stands.
“The arena is actually pretty new, Ginny hasn’t played on it since it was burnt to the ground 10 years ago, so its all new for us” he said.
At this, Hermione glanced at the buffet table and saw that Ron had moved off from there. She walked away from the conversation, leaving Malfoy and Harry to talk men’s business and went over to the table. The food smelt and looked delicious. Hermione took two plates and loaded them up with as much as she could place. She grabbed two bottles of mead with her pinky fingers before heading back to where Malfoy stood with Harry and now George and an irritated looking Ron.
“You shouldn’t be here, that’s what, Malfoy” Ron was yelling. “Invited? By who?” was all Hermione could hear, over the buzz of the box. Clearly, Ron was shouting and Malfoy was talking calmly.
“What the hell is going on here?” Hermione asked, setting the plates and bottles down on the table.
“This death eater has wormed his way into our VIP box. Thinking that this is like the world cup all over again. Where’s your hooded accomplices, huh? No muggle family to torture today. No house elf to do your dirty work this time” Ron was going off.
“Ron, you idiot, he’s with me” Hermione shouted at him standing in between the two.
Ron looked dumbfounded.
“What?” was all he could say.
“I invited him here, and if you have a problem with that, I suggest you leave” Hermione said.
“This is Ginny’s box. I’m her brother. If anybody should leave its him” Ron said.
“Ginny knows he’s here mate” came the calm voice of Harry.
The faces of those around them were all set to stunned. Now was the time where they would all find out that Hermione Granger was dating Draco Malfoy.
Ron was still silent. He had no idea what to say, so he continued to open and close his mouth, like that day in his room when she had told him she may have been pregnant. He had been silent for days before she had told him it was a false alarm. That she had simply been a few days late on her cycle and that was that.
At this, Ron turned and walked back to the other side of the box, where Vivienne was waiting for him, fear etched on her face. Hermione briefly saw her stroke his bright red face before turning away in disgust.
“Well, that went well” she said to Malfoy, grabbing the bottle off the table and handing it to him.
“Here’s to drama before the whistle” he said, holding up his bottle.
She clinked it with her own before saying “to drama” and grinning.
As the teams came whizzing out of the changing rooms, the box went quiet. There was still a buzz of something Hermione couldn’t place as she stood beside Malfoy.
“And with her comeback, after 13 years off the pitch, Ginny Potter!!” came the booming voice of the commentator.
“Is that…?” Hermione started.
“Lee Jordan” George said, confirming what Hermione was yet to ask.
“Just like old times, hey?” George said.
“Hmm, not really” Hermione said, looking around. Things were definitely different.
The crowd went wild when Ginny shot out and did a lap of the grounds. She waved to everyone and came especially close to the box where they all watched from. Hermione cheered and called out as she flew past along with the rest of the box and everything was forgotten.
Within minutes, the game was underway.
At first, the match was untense. The Holyhead Harpies and the Chudley Canons played well for the first half hour. Hermione was enthralled with the game and felt slightly bad that her attention wasn’t on Malfoy. However, every time she turned, he was saying “did you see that” or “What a save” to one of the other spectators in the box.
Hermione loved how easily he was settling in with the group. Except, of course, Ron, who would never accept Malfoy, no matter what. Especially now he was with her.
It was now two hours into the game and the score was 180 to 70. The Harpies were in the lead, and Ron was growing more and more frustrated. His favourite team was losing but his sisters team was winning. His blonde bimbo kept trying to comfort him, but he kept shrugging her off in a manner Hermione knew all too well. In this moment, she sort of felt for her, knowing what her fate would be. Ron was not a nice person to have as a partner and she only hoped, for her kids’ sake, that either he would get better or she would leave him. Then again, Hermione thought, it took her 18 years to figure it out and this Vivienne was not smart.
Hermione was brought out of her thoughts by the raging cheers of the crowd. Ginny had scored another goal, but the seeker was also on the path of the snitch.
“And the Harpies seeker closes in on the snitch while the Canons seeker is still looking at the other end of the field. Isn’t this a sad day for quidditch. The game is about to be over and its almost as if they haven’t even played… She reaches out, opens her hand, and YES!! The Holyhead Harpies win the game!!!”
Everyone in the box jumped up and down and were yelling and calling out. Hermione turned to Malfoy who was smiling larger than life.
“I love you” she blurted out, so only he could hear.
“I love you too” he said, as he wrapped his arms around her and brought her close for a kiss. Hermione forgot where she was in that moment. She had realised almost with out thinking, that she did love him. She had loved him since their first date, she realised. Despite all her concerns, worries, insecurities at dating this man, she did love him. And he loved her back. It felt so right, he bantered with everyone she knew, everyone she considered family, and it made her love him even more.
The way her heart fluttered when she saw him or when she even thought of him. She now realised that she was silly for not realising before.
When the kiss was coming to an end and the noise around them began to return, Hermione was suddenly aware of another thing in the room. Ron’s voice.
“What the hell is this?” he bellowed, swaying from drinking too much.
“Look…” began Malfoy, when Hermine went to speak. “I know you have history with Hermione…” he continued, her name sounding like heaven coming from his lips… “and we all have history from high school, but it’s over. She is with me and you’re going to have to accept it” he said, placing an arm around Hermione.
Ron didn’t speak but stepped forward and tried to swing a punch in Malfoy’s direction.
Before he could connect, Harry grabbed him and pulled him away.
“She’s too good for you, death eater. She belongs to me. You don’t know what you’re doing Hermione. You’ll see” Ron called, as Harry pulled him out of the box, leaving a devastated Vivienne behind.
“uh, how much did he have to drink?” came the amused voice of Charlie Weasley.
“Does he not remember he’s divorced?” Percy asked.
Hermione just watched the banter between the brothers.
“Did he forget he came here with his girlfriend?” George said, looking over at Vivienne.
“Don’t worry mate, you’re alright by us” said Bill, always the voice of the Weasleys collective.
“As long as you’re ok by our Hermione, you’re ok by us” said George.
“Thanks” said Malfoy.
“That means a lot” Hermione said, holding onto Malfoy’s hand.
With the drama all but over, the crowds began to disperse, and the stands started to empty. Vivienne left the box all alone and disappeared through the crowds as Hermione and Malfoy left also.
“Meet at Neville’s?” George called over the heads of the crowd who were rushing past.
“Sounds like a plan” Charlie called back, putting his arm around Vivienne who had been standing outside the door. “Come on Viv, I’ll look after ya. Ron’ll be along once Harry smacks some sense into him” he said.
Vivienne gasped at this and Charlie quickly reassured her that Harry was not actually going to smack him, he was just going to sober him up a little and give him a stern talking to.
Before long, the group reached the small field where they had apparated to, and while thinking about the small alley beside the club, one by one, they disapparated.
8-8-8
The night kicked off without a hitch. Neville had been at the game in his own box with a group of people they all knew and had set the club up in the dark green and gold colours of the Harpies before everyone had arrived. The VIP section awaited the group and was expanded to seat them all. Hermione didn’t know how it could have been possible for him to pull all this off, but he had.
Hermione arrived with Malfoy and found the VIP section already brimming with people.
They found Dean, Seamus, the Patil twins, Luna, Susan Bones, Michael Corner and Hannah Abbott already seated and each with a drink in their hands. There were partners of those Hermione knew, and people she assumed had worked with Ginny or Harry or met them somewhere lurking around the edges of the roped off area. She saw no sign of Ron, Harry or Ron’s bimbo and she secretly hoped Ron and Bimbo Barbie had gone home.
It wasn’t long till Ginny arrived with the rest of the team, freshly showered and changed, hand in hand with Harry and closely followed by Ron and Vivienne. Hermione’s hopes were dashed. She handed her best friend a drink and hugged her tightly, congratulating her before she was overcome by others.
When people started spotting Hermione hand in hand with Malfoy, they began asking questions, most of which Hermione dodged, initially. It became irritating, so, after taking a long swig from her drink, she called the attention of the group.
“Attention everyone… Attention” she called. The group slowly quietened down. “I would like to raise a glass to the Holyhead Harpies and more specifically, our favourite Chaser, Ginny Potter ! It wasn’t easy for her to get back out there and tonight shows that life isn’t over in your 30s, it really only just begins. So, cheers to Ginny!!” she said, encouraging a round of “cheers’” from the group. “Oh, and one more thing, I am dating Draco Malfoy. Yes, we are happy, no he hasn’t hexed me, yes he’s changed in the 17 years since high school and no I don’t care that Ron is here with the woman who destroyed our marriage, because if she hadn’t come along then I wouldn’t be as happy as I am now. So, cheers to me, cheers to Draco and cheers to homewrecking bimbos” Hermione called, eliciting half-hearted cheers’ from the crowd.
She stepped down off the chair she had been standing on to deliver her speech and found herself in Malfoy’s arms. His lips were on hers in an instant and she kissed him back just as eagerly.
“Dance with me” he asked, taking her by the hand and leading her away from the group. He didn’t have to ask her twice.
They had the dancefloor mostly to themselves at first, as everyone else was busy catching up. Hermione had no desire to deal with the fake friends who she hadn’t heard from or seen in 15 years.
After several songs and as the dancefloor had filled with people dancing, Hermione had to use the bathroom. She handed her drink to Malfoy and wandered slowly towards the ladies room, where there was a queue.
Standing in line, she looked up at the ceiling and noticed how intricate the tiles were. She hadn’t noticed them before. The floor was much the same. It wasn’t till someone tapped her on the shoulder that she realised she had been standing one person away from Vivienne.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I just want to talk. We’re both here in this line, we might as well make the most of it” Vivienne said.
Hermione just looked at her and motioned for her to begin.
“Hermione, you may think I’m some dumb blonde bimbo, but I want you to know… I didn’t ever intend on stealing Ron from you. You have to believe me” she said.
“Why would I believe anything you have to say?” she asked.
“Because I have no reason to lie. Ron has treated me horribly tonight and I think he’s been cheating on me. I just want to set the record straight” she said.
“Hurts doesn’t it?” Hermione asked, a smug look on her face.
“I didn’t know he was married. Well, he said you two were separated” she said.
“Typical” Hermione said.
“He told me that he was miserable at home and that he needed someone who would look after him. I didn’t know that you were a decent person. I would never had even looked his way Hermione, you have to believe me” she said.
“I don’t know what to believe. Why would you, a young girl, want to mess around with a man in his 30s who has a wife, regardless if it’s a current or an ex, and kids? It makes no sense” Hermione said.
“I know it doesn’t, well, not to you I suppose, but to me, it makes complete sense. I tried dating guys my own age and they only wanted me for one thing. Ron was different. He saw me for who I was” Vivienne said.
“I think you’re very mistaken. You don’t know Ron like I do. He is purely into you for what you can do for his image. It was all physical at first, trust me. I’ve known him since we were 11. That’s before you were even born” Hermione said.
Vivienne had tears in her eyes and for the first time, Hermione sort of felt sorry for her. She had come to the front of the line and disappeared into a cubicle just before Hermione had. Hermione wasn’t sure why or how she had become stuck in this conversation with the woman she hated more than anybody else, but it felt sort of good to get these things off her chest. Had she truly not known that she and Ron were still married?
She finished up and left the cubical, finding Vivienne waiting for her at the hand basin.
“Just tell me one thing… Did you leave underwear in our bathroom?” Vivienne asked.
At first, Hermione was confused. She thought back to Ron’s house and remembered why she had been there. She cringed inwardly at the memory and remembered that she had left her underwear there on that night. She was now struck with the decision to tell the truth, allow this woman to know the truth, or lie and let her continue with her life, not knowing that he had cheated on her.
She knew what she needed to do. Woman to woman.
“They were mine” she said, triggering tears to stream down the perfect face of the young, almost girl, standing in front of her.
It was this point when Hermione suddenly realised that this was just a young girl who had fallen into a trap.
“Why?” she asked, sobbing now.
“I… I didn’t know. I went to the house, drunk and uninvited. I was lonely and hadn’t been with anybody since Ron. I just needed… I don’t know, I needed someone to be close to me… for a bit. He didn’t stop me. I thought we were going to rekindle things, but then he told me that you lived there, and I was mortified. You were the whole reason my life had been turned upside down. You ruined everything. We had kids, we had a house, a life. We had it all and then you came along and then we had nothing. I had a year and a half of tremendous pain and sadness, trying to fix a marriage that could never be fixed. While I was trying, Ron was still meeting you in hotels” Hermione blurted out.
“I didn’t chase Ron. He came after me. He pursued me for a long time before I gave in. It wasn’t like I came along and suddenly he was a cheater. He was looking for someone, for something. He told me al these things, now I suppose they’re lies, but he told me how unhappy he had been, that he was trapped in a marriage that he didn’t enjoy with a wife he didn’t love. He told me that he was already separated but the divorce was messy, so he had to stay with you in the home. I should have known, but it wasn’t my fault entirely. I thought he was single. I would never have done that to somebody else. Ever” she said.
“Surely you would have known from George at the shop?” Hermione asked.
“No, not really. George hired me to come on when he left to spend time with his family, if you remember, so he didn’t know. No one did. Ron thought it would be more fun that way. I can see now how ridiculous it all was. I only found out recently that he was still married to you while we were together and it was hard, but I forgave him. I have been so eager to see you to ask you about the underwear though, because now I know the truth. Ron is a liar” she said.
“What did he say about them?” Hermione asked.
“He said that they were mine. That he bought them for me and hid them there” Vivienne said.
“Ass” Hermione muttered.
“He is” Vivienne said with a small smile.
“Look, I’m sorry for how horrible I’ve been to you. You must understand though, its been really difficult for me. It was my family, my life. For so long, I had no idea Ron was cheating on me. It has only taken me till now to realise how horrible our marriage actually was, but even so, it should have been up to me to end it” Hermione said.
“I forgive you. And I’m sorry too” Vivienne said.
“So what are you going to do now?” Hermione asked.
“Well, I suppose I ought to break up with him. You should have heard the things he was saying after Harry dragged him out of the VIP box. It was like I never existed. He said that you belonged to him and that that other man had no business being with you. I don’t know what happened between the three of you in the past, but Ron sure seemed upset about it” she said.
“That must have felt pretty horrible, hearing him say those things about me” Hermione said.
“It was the worst” she said.
“So what will you do? With your life?” Hermione asked.
“Well, I’m only 22. I have loads of time to figure it all out. I’ll take my half of the house and leave” she said, shrugging.
“Your half?” Hermione asked.
“I put in half the cash for that house. From an inheritance I received. Ron blew most of the divorce settlement on that bloody car and other stupid things. Then I stupidly put in hundreds of thousands of muggle pounds to get the house” she said.
“So… it sounds rough but kick him out. His parents can have him back” Hermione said. From what I saw, what I can remember, that house looked nothing like Ron’s house. That place is all you, and you deserve it. You’ve been through a lot” Hermione said, suddenly realising she had completely changed her tune about this girl in just the time that they spent in this bathroom.
“You think?” she asked.
“I know. Come on, lets go dance” Hermione said.