It was 6 months since the Final Battle. Voldemort was dead, defeated by his own wand. But what is Hermione’s secret?

***

The sun was setting in the old gnome-strewn garden of the Weasleys. Ron and Hermione had spent the last few months together at the Burrow while his parents visited Charlie in Canada, searching for dragons.

The Burrow looked a lot cleaner and tidier since everyone left. This was mostly on behalf of Hermione. A few Puffskeins bounced around the hedges near the chicken coop, overlooking the chess table.

Shattered fragments of an ivory chess king were swept off the table.

“You cheat! No wonder you always win against Harry!” laughed Hermione, losing for the fifth time at wizard chess.

“Okay then. I’ll say you won this time. Just don’t tell him.” Ron said, half amused. Hermione, after forcing herself to stop her hysterics, looked at his face. His complexion was much paler, she noticed. She tried changing the subject.

“How’s work? Harry called earlier. Said he needed to give you some papers.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just a poltergeist in Kent.”

His face suddenly looked worse.

Okay, it looks like he’s not going to tell me. Might as well try Legilimency.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, not really.”

“I know there is, and you never were a great Occlumens.”

“I’ll explain it to you later.”

*

After walking hand in hand back to the Burrow, Ron wondered if he should tell Hermione his worries.

“ Mione, you know there’s been a breakout-”

“-at Azkaban. Well, there were rumours…”

“Harry says that some Death Eaters, the ones that escaped, might be starting a revolt.”

“But Voldemort’s dead, why would they-”

Hermione stopped abruptly, making Ron trip.

“No. No. No, I need to go.”

“Hermione, what have you done or said or whatever.” Ron’s voice was much more serious.

“I was sworn not to tell. I can’t tell you!” She wanted to run but he grabbed her arm.

“Let go, Ron. Please, I don’t want to hurt you. This is Dumbledore we’re talking about.”

“Did he think you couldn’t trust me!”

“Ron! You know I’d never think that!”

“This is all because of last year wasn’t it! When I left you in that field!”

“You came back and I don’t see what’s wrong with you!”

“Well, why won’t you tell me!”

“Because I can’t, okay!”

Ron was clearly livid but he could hear a falter in Hermione’s voice as she was close to tears.

“Just go, Ron!”

“Hermione, I-”

“We need to break up.”

Those five words sent him up to his room, packing Hermione’s bags.

“Ron, you’ve got to listen. I can’t tell you because it could put you in danger.”

“It’s too late. I always thought it would end like this.”

“Please, I need you to know that we can still be-”

“What? Friends? It doesn’t look like it.”

“Why won’t you please, just listen!”

“What!”

“First, I can’t tell you this ‘problem’ and second, I can’t put up with your arguing all the time and-”

“Well, here’s all your stuff, I’ll tell mum. Get out.”

The first tear droplet formed on Hermione’s cheek. Next thing she knew, she had stormed out of the open front door and apparated.