Chapter 1 – Is This the End?

Dear Ron,

This is the hardest letter that I have ever had to write, because I know that when you read it I will be long gone. I will not see you ever again, I am moving, to a country far away. I won’t tell you where Ron because I know that you will just follow me and I want to leave this behind. I want to leave my old life behind and just move on. It’s not because I don’t love you anymore Ron, it’s just that I can’t do this anymore. I don’t think that I will be able to get through this if I stay. I’m sorry Ron, but I have to go, I can’t stay here any longer. I am giving up magic forever and going to live with my Aunt. She has been lonely since her 2nd husband died and I don’t think that she can be alone for very long. I really am sorry and it’s nothing against you, but I will never see you again because it’s just too difficult. I just want you to know that I love you and will never forget you Ronald Weasley.

All my love, Hermione x

“So that’s it then?” said Ron to himself. “She is just going, without a proper goodbye, without seeing me one last time.” Then he just broke down in tears, he couldn’t stop himself from crying, he wished that he could because he wanted to stay strong. But what was the point. He had just lost the one her truly loved, forever.

Ron got up and ran out of him bedroom, down the stairs and out that front door. He went and got into his father’s new car and drove as fast as he could to Hermione’s house.

“I’m sorry Ron; she just left for that airport. She doesn’t want to see you, or anybody. I’m really sorry and if there was something I could do I would. You know that I would Ron.”

“Thank you Mrs Granger. I’ll miss her; I can’t believe she left without saying a proper goodbye to me.”

“I know Ron, but she is facing a tough time. What with Harry’s death and everything else.”

“It’s OK, Mrs Granger. I suppose that’s just the way things have to be. Well, goodbye Mrs Granger,” said Ron, walking away.

“Goodbye Ron,” called Mrs Granger after him and she closed the door. When she got back to the living room she turned to her husband and said, “I always liked that boy. I can’t believe Hermione would leave without a proper goodbye.”

Ron was just driving off, and he took a slow drive home, he didn’t want to be around anyone right now. He just wanted to be alone.

“Stop the car here!” called Hermione from that back seat of the cab. “There’s just something that I have to do first. I’ll be 5 minutes!”

She got out of the car and walked up the pathway towards The Burrow. She had to see him one last time, she just had to. She raised her hand and knocked on the door. It was Mrs Weasley that opened the door.

“Hello, Mrs Weasley. Is Ron in?” asked Hermione, very politely.

“No, Hermione, dear. He went out about 10 minutes ago, sorry. But you can come in and wait for him if you want to.”

“No thank you, Mrs Weasley, I have to get going. I’m moving away you see, I sent Ron a letter because I just couldn’t tell him face to face. But when I got into the Cab I realised what a terrible mistake I had made. I just wanted to see him one last time.”

“Well, Hermione, I really will miss you, you know. You have really been good for Ron, I am very proud of you Hermione.”

“Thank you, Mrs Weasley, goodbye,” and she walked away from the door with tears in her eyes. That was it, she would never see Ron again. She had just thrown way what could have been the most perfect thing in the world.

“To the airport this time then?” said the cab driver when she climbed back in the car.

“Yes, please,” Hermione replied, wiping the tears away from her eyes and putting on a brave face. From that moment on Hermione knew that this was the beginning of her new life. Nothing would ever be the same again.

Ron got back to The Burrow and got out of the car. He turned around and saw that a cab had just pulled out of the driveway of The Burrow, and in the back was Hermione. Ron jumped back in the car and tried to turn the engine on, but it was broken. He got out of the car and started running after the cab, but the cab was too fast and in the end Ron just stopped. He stood in the road just staring after the car, until he couldn’t see it anymore. Then he turned around and headed home.

“Hermione was here 10 minutes ago,” said Mrs Weasley as soon as he had walked through the door.

“I know, Mum. I saw her drive off in her cab. I can’t believe I messed this up, I should have just stayed here and I would have seen her one last time.”

Mrs Weasley opened her arms and Ron went and hugged her, he was in tears and so upset. That night he went to bed hoping that he wouldn’t get up in the morning. But he knew that he had to be strong, he had to get through this. He would be fine.

5 years later it was the day before Hermione’s 22nd birthday. She was walking around the shops in Sydney, Australia with her aunt, looking for her perfect birthday outfit to wear, because she was going out with all her friends. It had taken Hermione a long time to get over Ron, and she still thought about him a lot. She had found the perfect outfit, but it was far too expensive, she could never afford it. She looked around her and no-one was looking, she took out her wand and was just about to use a spell to change the price on the outfit to something that she could afford. When suddenly she heard a familiar voice.

“Thought you weren’t going to do any more magic.”