The Wrong Time

And So It Begins

The first of the owls was from Ginny Potter.


Hey Mione,

I heard what happened with Ron, and I think he is an absolute foul git for cheating on you that way, but I have to admit. I think you are giving up rather quickly. Twenty years of marriage is a long time to throw away over something that can be resolved. Please reconsider what you are doing.

Love,

Ginny


Hermione stared at the letter in disgust. Did no one understand? She looked at another random parchment, from a woman in Devonshire.


Mrs. Weasley,

How can you have the decency to call yourself a witch? Ronald is a fine wizard, my Bruce told me so. They work together, you know. I cannot believe you are going to abandon your husband in his time of need! What kind of woman would do that?


Irene Wadkirk


Hermione set the parchment ablaze. How could the woman have the audacity to send her such a cruel letter when she knew nothing of the situation? His time of need? What about her time of need? She turned to another letter.


Hermione,

I’ve been in touch with Ron lately. After a lot of talking, he has agreed to bid Lavender farewell and work things out with you. Do consider it, will you? I’d hate to see your family torn apart for something you could work out.

All My Love,

Molly


Willing to bid Lavender farewell? Did Molly actually think that mattered to her? It seemed as if no one understood that she did not want to work things out. Their marriage was beyond repair, and she could scarcely believe that Ron wanted to work things out anyway.


She had filed the paperwork for a formal divorce two days before. She knew that once it was made public, she would get even more hate mail. Even though divorce was legal, it was rare a couple would go through with it. Most couples were happy to cheat on each other and stay married for appearances only rather than get a divorce. She knew that the Malfoys had been one such couple.


Perhaps it was her muggle upbringing. She would not be shamed and humiliated by sitting at home darning the socks of a lying, cheating prick. She had not sought the divorce before for the sake of the children. They hadn’t made love in over two years. She was pregnant with Josiah the last time, and Ron had come home drunk.


She had reasoned with herself at the time that since he was her husband, it couldn’t be considered rape, but when she thought about it, it was clearly rape. She had been tired and sore, and only wanted to sleep, but Ron had forced himself on her. No, Lavender was not their only problem.


Hermione was pulled from her reverie when a snowy owl dropped a letter in her lap. She recognized it immediately as Harry’s owl, Aphrodite. It had taken Harry five years before he would buy another owl, and when he did, Ginny had named it.


She carefully opened the parchment.


Hermione,

I just heard about what you did. I wish you would see reason. Ron did a terrible, terrible thing, but don’t you realize that you are jeopardizing his job? He could get fired if people complain. They might say if he can’t make his marriage work, then he is unreliable to work in the ministry. Please reconsider.

Love,

Harry


Hermione felt sick. She didn’t want Ron to get fired, of course, but she could not stay married to him. She went into the lab to check on the potions. When she came back into the kitchen, she saw that there was a small mountain of parchments, many of which were howlers.


She certainly hoped that Ron was getting hate mail too. She set the pile ablaze and cleaned up the ash.


Perhaps she hadn’t gotten far enough away.


A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review!